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NARRATIVE 


LIFE   AND   ADVENTURES 

OF 

IIEIEY  r>IBIi, 

AN    AMERICAN  SLAVE, 

XVTtlTTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 

AN  INTRODUCTION 

BY  LUCIUS  C.  WATIwVCK, 
THIRD  STEREOTYPE  EDITION'. 


NEY/  YOEK : 

PUBLISHED    BY   THE   AUTHOR  ;    5    SPRUCE   STREET. 
1850. 


Eutered  Jiocording  to  the  Act  of  Congi-ess  m  the  year  iS49, 

By  henry  lilBB, 

In  llic  Clerk's  Office  of  tbc  District  Court  of  the  Southern  Di 

tr.'.r.t  of  ISl'w  Yoi-k 


i.CDO?*AI,D    &    LKE,    PR1?!TE6S, 
9    Si'Kl-C£.   STREET,    N     ^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


PaoM  the  most  obnoxious  substances  we  often  see  spring 
forth,  beautiful  anS  fragrant,  flowers  of  every  hue,  to  regale  the 
eye,  and  perfume  the  air.  Thus,  frequently,  are  results  origi- 
nated which  are  wholly  unlike  the  cause  that  gave  them  birth. 
An  illustration  of  this  truth  is  a^ofdediby  the  history  of  Ameri- 
can Slavery.  ;'    \ 

Naturally  and  necessarify,  the  enemy  of  literature,  it  has  be- 
come the  prolific  theme  of  mMch  that  is  profound  in  argument, 
sublime  in  poetry,  and  thrilling  in  narrative.  From  the  soil  of 
slavery  itself  have  sprung  forth  some  of  f^Q  most  brilliant  pro- 
ductions, whose  logical  levers  will  ultimately  «pheave  and  over- 
throw the  system.  Gushing  fountu<ns  of  poetic  thought,  have 
started  from  beneath  the  rod  of  violence,  that  will  long  continue 
to  slake  the  feverish  thirst  of  humanity  outraged,  until  swelling 
to  a  flood  it  shall  rush  with  wasting  violence  over  the  ill-gotten 
heritage  of  the  oppressor.  Startling  incidents  authenticated, 
far  excelling  fiction  in  their  touching  pathos,  from  the  pen  of 
self-emancipated  slaves,  do  now  exhibit  slavery  in  such  revolt- 
ing aspects,  as  to  secure  the  execrations  of  all  good  men,  and 
become  a  monument  more  enduring  than  marble,  in  testimony 
strong  as  sacred  writ  against  it. 

Of  the  class  last  named,  is  the  narrative  of  the  life  of  Henry 
Bibb,  which  is  equally  distinguished  as  a  revolting  portrait  of 
the  hideous  slave  system,  a  thrilling  narrative  of  individual  suf- 
fering, and  a  triumphant  vindication  of  the  slave's  manhood  and 
mental  dignity.  And  all  this  is  associated  with  unmistaka- 
ble traces  of  originality  and  truthfulness. 

To  many,  the  elevated  style,  purity  of  diction,  and  easy  flow 
of  language,  frequently  exhibited,  will  appear  unaccountable 
and  contradictory,  in  view  of  his  want  of  early  mental  culture 


11,  INTRODUCTION. 

But  to  the  thousands  who  have  listened  w  ith  delight  to  his 
speeches  on  anniversary  and  other  occasions,  these  same  traits 
will  be  noted  as  uneqfiivocal  evidence  of  orii^inality.  Very  few 
men  present  in  their  written  composition,  so  perfect  a  transcript 
of  their  style  as  is  exhibited  by  Mr.  Bibb. 

Moreover,  the  writer  of  this  introduction  is  well  acquainted 
with  his  handwriting  and  style.  The  entire  manuscript  I  have 
examined  and  prepared  for  the  press.  Many  of  the  closing 
pages  of  it  were  written  by  Mr.  Bibb  in  my  office.  And  the 
whole  is  preserved  for  inspection  now.  An  examination  of  it 
will  show  that  no  alteration  of  sentiment,  language  or  style, 
was  necessary  to  make  it  what  it  now  is,  in  the  hands  of  the 
reader.  The  work  of  pyeportbtipn  for  the  press  was  that  of 
orthography  and  punctudtion  .iaotely,  an  arrangement  of  the 
chapters,  and  a  table'  of  contcnts^-iltk;  n^ore  than  falls  to  the  lot 
of  publishers  generally. 

The  fidelity  of  the  narrative  is  sustained  by  the  most  satisfac- 
tory and  ample  testimony.  Time  has  proved  its  claims  to  truth. 
Thorough  investi^tion  ha^  gijftf  d  and  analysed  every  essential 
fact  alleged,  and  demonstrated  clearly  ^hat  this  thrilling  and 
eloquent  narrative,  though  sU  anger  than  fiction,  is  undoubtedly 
true. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  present  tlis  following  documents  to 
the  reader,  to  sustain  this  declaration.  For  convenience  of 
reference,  and  that  they  may  be  more  easily  understood,  the 
letters  will  be  inserted  consecutively,  with  explanations  follow- 
ing the  last. 

The  best  preface  to  these  letters,  is,  the  report  of  a  committee 
appointed  to  investigate  the  truth  of  Mr.  Bibb's  narrative  av 
he  has  delivered  it  in  public  for  yea'ra  past. 

REPORT 

Of  the  TTNDRRSIUNED,  COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  BY  THE  DETROIT 

Liberty  Association   to  investigate  the   truth  of  the 

NARRATIVE  OF    HeNRY  BiBB,  A  FUGITIVE  FROM    SlaVERY,  AND 
REPORT  thereon: 

Mr.  Bibb  has  addressed  several  assemblies  in  Michigan,  and 
his  narrative  is  generally  known.  Some  of  his  hearers,  among 
whom  were  Liberty  men,  felt  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  his  state- 
ments.    Respect  for  their  scruples  and  the  obligo.tion  of  duty 


INTRODUCTION.  111. 

\b  th»5  public  induced  the  formation  of  the  present  Committee. 

The*  Committee  entered  on  the  duty  confided  to  them,  re- 
solved on  3.  fe«>archin2;  scrutiny,  and  an  unreserved  publication 
j)f  Its  result  Mr.  Bibb  acquiesced  in  ih^  inquiry  with  a  praise- 
worthy spirit  He  attended  before  the  Committee  and  gave 
willing  aid  to  its  object.  He  was  subjected  to  a  rigorous  ex- 
amination. Facts— dates — persons — and  localities  were  de- 
manded and  cheerfully  furnished.  Proper  inquiry — either  by 
letter,  or  personally,  or  ^'brough  the  medium  of  triends  was  then 
made  from  every  person  and  in  every  quarter  likely  to  elucidate 
the  truth.  In  fact  no  test  for  its  ascertainment,  known  to  the 
sense  or  experience  of  the.  Committee,  was  omitted.  The  re- 
sult was  the  collection  of  *  large  body  of  testimony  from  very 
diversified  quarters.  Slave  owners,  slave  dealers,  fugitives 
from  slavery,  political  friends  and  political  foes  contributed  to 
a  mass  of  testimony,  every  part  of  which  pointed  to  a  common 
conclusion — the  undoubted  truth  of  JNJr.  Bibb's  statements. 

In  the  Committee's  opinion  no  individvial  can  substantiate 
the  events  of  his  life  by  testimony  more  conclusive  and  harmo- 
nious than  is  now  before  tbem  in  confirmation  of  Mr.  Bibb. 
The  main  facts  of  his  narrative,  and  many  of  the  minor  ones 
are  corroborated  beyond  all  question.  No  inconsistency  has 
been  disclosed  nor  anything  j  evcalcd  to  create  siispicion.  The 
Committee  have  no  hesitation  in  dcclarin<r  their  conviction  that 
Mr.  Bibb  is  amply  sustained^  and  is  entitled  to  public  confi- 
dence and  high  esteem. 

The  bulk  of  testimony  prTicludes  its  publication,  but  it  is  in 
the  Committee's  hands  for  \.\t£  inspection  of  any  applicant. 

A.  L.  PORTER, 
C.  H.  STEWART, 
SILAS  M.  HOLMES. 
Detrqit,  ^pril  22,  1845.  Committee. 

From  the  bulk  of  testimony  obtained,  a  part  only  is  here 
introduced.  The  remainder  fully  corroborates  and  strengthens 
that. 

[No.  1.     An  Extract]  Dawn  Mills,  Feb.  19th,  1845. 

Charles  H.  Stewap.t,  Esq. 
My  Dear.  Brother  : 

Your  kindcoimnunication  of  the  13th  came  to  hand  yesterday. 
I  have  made  inquiries  respecting  Henry  Bibb  vvhich'may  be  of 
service  to  you.  Mr.  Wm.  Harrison,  to  whom  you  allude  in 
your  letter,  is  here.  He  is  a  respectable  and  worthy  man — a 
man  of  piety.  I  have  just  had  an  interview  with  him  this  eve- 
ning. He  testifies,  that  he  was  well  acquainted  with  Henry 
Bibb  in  Trimble  County,  Ky.,  and  that  he  sent  a  letter  to  him 
by  Thomas  Henson,  and  ^ot  one  in  return  from  him.  He  says 
that  Bibb  carne  out  to  Canada  some  three  years  ago,  and  went 
back  to  get  his  wife  up,  but  was  betrayed  at  Cincinnyti  by  a 
colored  man—that  he  was    taken  to  Louisville  but  got  away— 


IV.  INTRODUCTION. 

was  taken  again  and  lodGed  in  jail,  and  sold  off  to  New  Or- 
leans, or  ho,  (Harrison,)  understood  that  he  was  taken  to  New 
Orleans.  He  testifies  tluit  Bibb  is  a  Mclhodist  man,  and  says 
that  two  persons  who  citme  on  with  him  last  Summer,  knew  Bibb. 
One  of  these,  Simpson  Young,  is  now  at  Maiden.  *  *  * 
Very  respectfully ,^thy  friend, 

HIRAM  WILSON. 


[No.  2.]  Bedford,  Tri.mble  Co.,  Kentucky. 

March   4,  1845. 

SiE: — Your  letter  under  date  of  the  13th  ult.,  is  now  be- 
fore me,  making  some  inquiry  about  a  person  supposed  to  be  a 
fugitive  from  the  South,  "  who  is  lecturing  to  your  religious 
community  on  Slavery  and  the  South." 

I  am  pleased  to  inform  you  that  1  have  it  in  my  power  to  give 
you  the  information  you  desire.  The  person  spoken  of  byyou 
1  have  no  doubt  is  Walton,  a  yellow  man,  who  once  belonged  to 
my  father,  William  Galewood.  He  was  purchased  by  him  from 
John  Sibly,  a»d  by  John  Sibly  of  his  brother  Albert  G.  Sibly, 
and  Albert  G.  Siblv  became  poiisessed  of  him  by  his  marriage 
with  Judge  David  White's  daughter,  he  being  born  Judge 
White's  slave. 

The  boy  Walton  at  the  time  he  belonged  to  John  Sibly,  mar- 
ried a  slave  of  my  father's,  a  mulatto  girl,  and  sometime  after- 
wards solicited  him  to  buy  him  ;  the  old  man  after  much  impor- 
tuning from  Walton,  consented  to  do  so,  and  accordinirly  paid 
Sibly  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  He  did  not  buy  him  be- 
cause he  needed  him,  but  from  the  fact  that  he  had  a  wife  there, 
and  Walton  on  his  part  promising  every  thing  that  my  father 
could  desire. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  Walton  became  indolent  and 
neglectful  of  his  duty;  and  in  addition  to  this,  he  was  guilty, 
as  the  old  man  thought,  of  worse  ofTences.  He  watched  his  con- 
duct more  strictly,  and  found  he  was  guilty  of  disposing  of  ar- 
ticles irom  the  farm  for  his  own  use,  and  pocketing  the  money. 

lie  actually  caught  him  one  day  stealing  wheat — he  had 
conveyed  one^sack  full  to  a  neiohbor  and  whilst  he  was  deliver- 
ing the  other  my  father  caught  him  in  the  very  act. 

"fie  confessed  his  ^uilt  and  promised  to  do  better  for  the  fu- 
ture— and  on  his  making  promises  of  this  kind  my  father  was 
disposed  to  keep  him  still,  not  wishing  to  part  him  from  his  wife, 
for  whom  he  professed  to  entertain  the  strongest  afTection. 
When  theChristmas  Holidays  came  on,  the  old  man,  as  is  usual 
in  this  country,  gave  his  negroes  a  week  tloliday.  Walton,  in- 
stead of  regaling  himself  by  going  about  visitinir  his  colored 
friends,  took  up  his  line  of  march  for  her  Britanic  Majesty's  do 
minions. 

He  was  gone  about  two  years  I  think,  when  1  heard  of  him 


INTRODUCTION.  T. 

in  Cincinnati ;  I  repaired  thither,  with  some  few  friends  to  aid 
nie,  and  succeeded  in  securing  him. 

He  was  taken  to  Louisville,  and  on  the  next  morning  after  our 
arrival  there,  he  escaped,  almost  from  before  our  face,  while  we 
were  on  the  street  before  the  Tavern.  He  succeeded  in  elud- 
ing our  pursuit,  and  again  reached  Canada  in  safety. 

Nothing  daunted  he  returned,  after  a  lapse  of  some  twelve 
or  eighteen  months,  with  the  intention,  as  I  have  since  learned, 
of  conducting  off  his  wife  and  eight  or  ten  more  slaves  to 
Canada. 

I  got  news  of  his  whereabouts,  and  succeeded  in  recapturing 
him.  I  took  him  to  Louisville  and  together  with  his  wife  and 
child,  (she  going  alon<i  with  him  at  her  owner's  request,)  sold 
hem.  He  was  taken  from  thence  to  New  Orleans — and  from 
hence  to  Red  River,  Arkansas — and  the  next  news  I  had  of 
him  he  was  again  wending  his  way  to  Canada,  aud  I  suppose 
now  is  at  or  near  Detroit. 

In  relation  to  his  character,  it  was  the  general  opinion  here 
that  he  was  a  notorious  liar,  and  a  rosrue.  These  things  I  can 
procure  any  number  of  respectable  witnesses  to  prove. 

In  proof  of  it,  he  says  his  mother  belonged  to  James  Bibb, 
which  is  a  lie,  there  not  having  been  such  a  man  about  here, 
much  less  brother  of  Secretary  Bibb.  He  says  that  Bibb's 
danghter  married  A.  G.  Sibly,  when  the  fact  is  Sibly  married 
Judi*e  David  White's  daughter,  aud  his  mother  belonged  to 
White  also  and  is  now  here,  free. 

So  you  will  perceive  he  is  guilty  of  lying  for  no  effect,  and 
what  might  it  not  be  supposed  he  would  do  where  he  could  effect 
anything  by  it. 

I  have  been  more  tedious  than  I  should  have  been,  but  being 
anxious  to  give  you  his  rascally,  conduct  in  full,  must  be  my 
apology.  You  arc  at  liberty  to  publish  this  letter,  or  make  any 
use  you  see  proper  of  it.  If  you  do  publish  it,  let  me  have  a 
paper  containing  the  publication — at  any  rate  let  me  hear  from 
you  again. 

Respectfully  yours,  &c., 

SILAS  GATEWOOD. 

To  C.  H.  StewaPvT,  Esq. 


[No.  3.     An  Extract.]  Cincinnati,  J»f wrc/j  10,  1845. 

My  Dear  Sir: — i\irs.  Path,  Nickens  and  Woodson  did  not 
see  Bibb  on  his  first  visit,  in  1837,  when  he  staid  with  .Tob 
Dundy^  but  were  subsequently  told  of  it  by  Bibb.  They  first 
saw  him  i%,May,  I83S.  Mrs.  Path  remembers  this  date  because  it 
was  thn  month  in  which  she  removed  from  Broadway  to  Har- 
rison street,  and  Bibb  assisted  her  to  remove.  Mrs.  Path's 
garden  adjoined  Dundy's  back  yard.  While  engaged  in  dig- 
ging up  flowers,  she  was  addressed  by  Bibb,  wlio  was  staying 
with  Dundy  pr-d  who  offered  to  dig  them  up  for  her.     She  hirecl 


VI.  INTRODUCTION 

him  to  do  it.  Mrs.  Dundy  shortly  after  called  ever  and  told 
Mrs.  Path  that  he  was  a  slave.  At'ler  that  Mrs.  Path  took  him 
into  her  house  and  concealed  him.  AVhile  concealed,  he  as- 
tonished his  good  protectress  by  his  ingenuity  in  bottoming 
chairs  with  cane.  When  the  furniture  was  removed,  Bibb  in- 
sisted on  helping,  and  was,  after  some  remonstrances,  permitted. 
At  the  house  on  Harrison  street,  he  was  employed  for  several 
days  in  digging  a  cellar,  and  was  so  employed  when  seized  on 
Saturday  afternoon  by  the  constables.  He  held  frequent  con- 
versations with  Mrs.  Path  and  others,  in  which  he  gave  them 
the  same  account  which  he  has  given  you. 

On  Saturday  afternoon,  two  noted  slave- catching  constables, 
E.  V.  Brooks  and  O'Neil,  f^urprised  Bibb  as  he- was  digging  in 
the  cellar.  Bibb  sprang  for  the  fence  and  gained  the  top  of  it, 
where  he  was  seized  and  dragged  back.  They  took  him  im- 
mediately before  AVilliam  Doty,  a  Justice  of  infamous  notoriety 
tts  an  accomplice  of  kidnappers,  proved  property,  paid  charges 
and  took  him  away. 

His  distressed  friends  were  surprised  by  his  re-appearance 
in  a  few  days  after,  the  Wednesday  foUowinsf,  as  they  think. 
Ho  reached  the  house  of  Dr.  Woods,  (a  colored  man  since  de- 
ceased,) before  day-brenk,  and  staid  until  dusk.  Mrs.  Path, 
John  Woodson  and  others  made  up  about  twelve  dollars  for  him, 
W^oodson  accompanied  him  out  of  town  a  mile  and  bid  him 
"Godspeed."  He  has  never  been  here  since.  W^oodson  and 
Clark  sa\y  him  at  Detroit  iwo  years  ago. 

Yours  truly, 

WILLIAM  BIRNEY. 


[No.  4.]  Louisville,  March  14,  1845. 

Mr.  Stewart. — Yours  of  the  1st  came  to  hand  on  the  13th  inst 
You  wished  me  to  inlbrm  you  what  became  of  a  boy  that  was 
in  the  work-house  in  the  lull  of  '39.  The  boy  you  allude  to 
went  by  the  name  of  Walton  ;  he  had  ran  away  t>om  Kentucky 
Home  time  before,  and  returned  for  his  wife — was  cauijht  and  sold 
to  Garrison  ;  he  was  taken  to  Louisiana,  I  think — he  was  sold 
on  Red  River  to  a  planter.  As  Garrison  is  absent  in  the  City 
of  New  Orleans  at  this  time,  I  cannot  inform  you  who  he  was 
sold  to.  Garrison  will  be  in  Louisville  some  time  this  Spring  ; 
if  you  wish  me,  I  will  inquire  of  Garrison  and  inform  you  to 
whom  he  was  sold,  and  where  his  master  lives  at  this  time. 

Yours, 

W.  PORTER. 


[No.  5.]  Bedford,  Trimble  Cornxv,  Ky 

C.  H.  Stewart,  Esq., 

Sir. — I  received  your  note  on  the  IGth  inst.,  and  in  accordance 
with  it  I  write  you  these  lines.     You  stated  that  you  would 


INTRODUCTION.  VU 

wish  to  know  something  about  Walton  H.  Bibb,  and  whether 
he  had  a  wife  and  child,  and  whether  they  were  sold  to  New 
Orleans.  Sir,  before  I  answer  these  inquiries,  1  should  like  to 
know  who  Charles  H.  Stewart  is,  and  why  you  should  make 
these  inquiries  of  me,  and  how  you  knew  who  I  was,  as  you  are 
a  stranger  to  me  and  I  must  he  to  you.  In  your  next  if  you 
will  tell  me  the  intention  of  your  inquiries,  1  will  give  you  a 
full  history  of  the  whole  case. 

I  have  a  boy  in  your  county  by  the  name  of  King,  a  large 
man  and  very  black  ;  if  you  are  acquainted  with  him,  give  him 
my  compliments,  and  tell  him  I  am  well,  and  all  of  his  friends. 
VV.  H.  Bibb  is  acquainted  with  him. 

I  wait  your  answer. 

Your  most  obedient, 
Jylarch  17,  1845.  W.  H.  GATEWOOD 


[No.  6.]  Bedford,  Kentucky,  ,^pril  6th,  1845, 

Mr.  Charles  H.Stewart. 
Sir: — Yours  of  the  1st  March  is  before  me,  inquiring  if  one 
Walton  Bibb,  a  colored  man,  escaped  from  me  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
in  the  Spring  of  1839.  To  that  inquiry  I  answer,  he  did.  The 
particulars  are  these  :  He  ran  off  from  William  Gatewood  some 
time  in  1838  I  think,  and  was  heard  of  in  Cincinnati.  Myself  and 
some  others  went  there  and  took  him,  and  took  him  to  Louis- 
ville for  sale,  by  the  directions  of  his  master.  While  there  he 
made  his  escape  and  was  gone  some  time,  I  think  about  one 
year  or  longer.  He  came  back  it  was  said,  to  get  his  wife  and 
child,  so  report  says.  He  was  again  taken  by  his  owner;  he 
together  with  his  wife  and  child  was  taken  to  Louisville  and 
sold  to  a  man  who  traded  in  negroes,  and  was  taken  by  him  to 
New  Orleans  and  sold  with  his  wife  and  child  to  some  man  up 
Red  River,  so  I  was  informed  by  the  man  who  sold  him.  He 
then  ran  off  and  left  his  wife  and  child  and  got  back,  it  seems, 
to  your  country.  I  can  say  for  Gatewood  he  was  a  good  mas- 
ter, and  treated  him  well.  Gatewood  bought  him  from  a  Mr, 
Sibly,  who  was  going  to  send  him  down  the  river.  Walton,  to 
my  knowledge,  influenced  Gatewood  to  buy  him,  and  promised 
if  he  would,  never  to  disobey  him  or  run  off.  Who  he  beloniis 
to  now,  I  do  not  know.  I  know  Gatewood  sold  his  wife  and 
child  at  a  great  sacrifice,  to  satisfy  him.  If  any  other  informa- 
tion is  necessary  I  will  give  it,  if  required  .  Vou  will  please 
write  me  again  what  he  is  trying  to  do  in  your  country,  or  what 
he  wishes  the  inquiry  from  me  ibr. 

Yours,  trulv, 

'  DANIEL  S.  LANE. 


These  letters  need   little   comment.      Their   testimony  com- 
bined is  most  harmonioup  and  conclusive.     Look  at  the  pointa 

'established. 


VIU.  INTRODUCTION. 

1.  Hiram  Wilson  gives  the  testimony  of  reputable  men  now 
in  Canada,  who  knew  Henry  Bibb  as  a  slave  in  Kentucky. 

2.  Silas  Gatewood,  with  a  peculiar  relish,  fills  three  pages  of 
foolscap,  "  being  anxious  to  give  his  rascally  conduct  in  full," 
as  he  says.  But  he  vaults  over  the  saddle  and  lands  on  the 
other  side.  His  testimony  is  invaluable  as  an  endorsement  of 
Mr.  Bibb's  truthfulness.  He  illustrates  all  the  essential  facts 
of  this  narrative.  He  also  labors  to  prove  him  deceitful  and  a 
liar. 

Deceit  in  a  slave,  is  only  a  slight  reflex  of  the  stupendous 
fraud  practised  by  his  master.  And  its  indulgence  has  far  more 
logicin  its  favor,  than  the  ablest  plea  ever  written  for  slave  hold- 
ing, under  ever  such  peculiar  circumstances.  The  attempt  to 
prove  Mr  Bibb  in  the  lie,  is  a  signal  failure,  as  he  never  affirm- 
ed what  Gatewood  denies.  With  this  offset,  the  letter  under 
notice  is  a  triumphant  vindication  of  one,  whom  he  thought  there 
by  to  injure  sadly.  As  Mr.  Bibb  has  most  happily  acknowledg- 
ed the  wheat,  (sec  page  194,)  I  pass  the  charge  of  stealing  by 
referring  to  the  logic  there  used,  which  will  be  deemed  con- 
vincing. 

3.  William  Birney,  Esq.,  attests  the  facts  of  Mr.  Bibb's  arrest 
in  Cincinnati,  and  the  subsequent  escape,  as  narrated  by  him, 
from  the  declaration  of  eye  witnesses. 

4.  W.  Porter,  Jailor,  states  that  Bibb  was  in  the  work-house 
at  Louisville,  held  and  sold  afterwards  to  the  persons  and  at  the 
places  named  in  this  volume. 

5.  W.  H.  Gatewood,  with  much  Southern  dignity,  will  an- 
swer no  questions,  but  shows  his  relation  to  these  matters  by 
naming  "  King" — saying,  "  W.  H.  Bibb  is  acquainted  with 
him,"  and  promising  "  a  full  history  of  the  case." 

6.  Daniel  S.Lane,  with  remarkable  straight-forwardness  an* 
stupidity,  tells  all  he  knows,  and  then  wants  to  know  what  thej 
ask  him  for.  The  writer  will  answer  that  question.  He  Avant 
ed  to  prove  by  two  or  more  witneses,  the  truth  of  his  own  state- 
ments ;  which  has  most  surely  been  accomplished. 

Having  thus  presented  an  array  of  testimony  sustaining  the 
facts  alleged  in  this  narrative,  the  introduction  will  be  con- 
cluded by   introducing  a  letter   signed  by  respectable  men  of 


INTRODUCTION.  IX. 

Detioit,  and  endorsed  by  Judge  Wilkins,  showing  the  high  es- 
teem in  which  Mr.  Bibb  is  held  by  those  who  know  him  well 
where  he  makes  his  home.  Their  testimony  expresses  their 
present  regard  as  well  as  an  opinion  of  his  past  character.  It 
is  introduced  here  with  the  greatest  satisfaction,  as  the  writer 
is  assured,  from  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  Henry  Bibb, 
that  all  who  know  him  hereafter  will  entertain  the  same  senti- 
ments toward  him  : 


Detroit,  March  10,  1845. 
The  undersigned  have  pleasure  in  recommending  Henry 
Bibb  to  the  kinBness  and  confidence  of  Anti-slavery  friends  in 
every  State.  He  has  resided  among  us  for  some  years.  His 
deportment,  his  conduct,  and  his  christian  course  have  won  our 
esteem  and  affection.  The  narrative  of  his  sufferings  and  more 
early  life  has  been  thoroughly  investigated  by  a  Committee  ap- 
pointed for  the  purpose.  They  sought  evidence  respecting  it  in 
every  proper  quarter,  and  their  report  attested  its  undoubted 
truth.     In  this  conclusion  we  all'cordially  unite. 

H.  Bibb  has  for  some  years  publicly  made  this  narrative  to  as- 
semblies, whose  number  cannot  be  told  ;  it  has  commanded  pub- 
lic attention  in  this  State,  and  provoked  inquiry.  Occasionally 
too  we  see  persons  from  the  South,  who  knew  him  in  early 
years,  yet  not  a  word  or  fact  worthy  of  impairing  its  truth  has 
reached  us  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  every  thing  tended  to  its  cor- 
roboration. 

Mr.  Bibb's  Anti-slavery  efforts  in  this  State  have  produced  in- 
calculable benefit.  The  Lord  has  blessed  him  into  an  instru- 
ment of  great  power.  He  has  labored  much,  and  for  very  inade- 
quate compensation.  Lucrative  offers  for  other  quarters  did  not 
tempt  him  to  a  more  profitable  field.  His  sincerity  and  disin- 
terestedness are  therefore  beyond  suspicion. 

We  bid  him  "  God-speed,"  on  hia  route.  We  bespeak  for 
him  every  kind  consideration.         *##■>? 

J}.  Hallock, 
President  of  the  Detroit  Lib.  Association. 

CuLLEN  Brown,  Vice-President. 

S.  M.  Holmes,  Secretary. 

J.  D.  Baldwin, 

Charles  H.  Stewart, 

Martin  Wilson, 

William  Barnum. 

Detroit,  Nov.  11,  1845. 

The  undersigned,  cheerfully  concurs  with  Mr.  Hallock  and 
others  in  their  friendly  recommendation  of  Mr,  Henry  Bibb 


X.  INTRODUCTION. 

The  undersigned  has  known  him  for  many  months  ih  the  Sab- 
bath Scliool  in  this  City,  partly  under  his  charge,  and  can  cer- 
tify to  his  correct  deportment,  and  commend  him  to  the  sympa- 
thies of  Christian  benevolence. 

ROSS  WILKINS. 


The  task  now  performed,  in  preparing  for  the  press  and  in» 
troducing  to  the  public  the  narrative  of  Henry  Bibb,  lias  been 
one  of  the  most  pleasant  ever  required  at  my  hands.  And  I 
conclude  it  with  an  expression  of  the  hope  that  it  may  afTora 
interest  to  the  reader,  support  to  the  author  in  his  efforts  against 
slavery,  and  be  instrumental  in  advancing  the  great  work  of 
emancipation  in  this  country. 

LUCIUS  C.  MATLACK. 

New  York  City,  July   Ist,  1849. 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


This  work  has  been  -written  during  irregular  intervals,  while 
I  have  been  travelling  and  laboring  for  the  emancipation  of  my 
enslaved  countrymen.  The  reader  will  remember  that  I  malce 
no  pretension  to  literature ;  for  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  have 
been  educated  in  the  school  of  adversity,  whips,  and  chains. 
Experience  and  observation  have  been  my  principal  teachers, 
with  the  exception  of  three  weeks  schooling  which  I  have  had 
the  good  fortune  to  receive  since  my  escape  from  the  "  grave 
yard  of  the  mind,*'  or  the  dark  prison  of  human  bondage.  And 
nothing  but  untiring  perseverance  has  enabled  me  to  prepare 
this  volume  for  the  public  eye ;  and  T  trust  by  the  aid  of  Divine 
Providence  to  be  able  to  make  it  intelligible  and  instructive.  I 
thank  God  for  the  blessings  of  Liberty — the  contrast  is  truly 
great  between  freedom  and  slavery.  To  be  changtd  from  a  chat- 
tel to  a  human  being,  is  no  light  matter,  though  the  process  with 
myself  practically  was  very  simple.  And  if  I  could  reach  the 
ears  of  every  slave  to-day,  throughout  the  who^^  continent  of 
America,  T  would  teach  the  same  lesson,  I  would  sound  it  in  the 
ears  of  every  hereditary  bondman,  "  break  your  chains  and  fly 
for  freedom !" 

It  may  be  asked  why  I  have  written  this  work,  when  there 
has  been  so  much  already  written  and  published  of  the  same 
character  from  other  fugitives?  And,  why  publish  it  after 
having  told  it  publicly  all  through  New  England  and  the  Wes- 
tern States    to  multiplied    thousands  ? 

My  answer  is,  that  in  no  place  have  I  given  orally  the  de- 
tail of  my  narrative  ;  and  some  of  the  most  interesting  events 
of  my  life  have  never  reached  the  public  ear      ^Moreover,  it  was 


Xll.  -AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 

at  the  request  of  many  friends  of  dovrn-trodden  humanity,  that  I 
have  undertaken  to  write  the  following  sketch,  that  light  and 
truth  might  be  spread  on  the  sin  and  evils  of  slavery  as  far  as 
possible.  I  also  wanted  to  leave  my  humble  testimony  on  record 
against  this  man-destroying  system,  to  be  read  by  succeeding 
generations  when  my  body  shall  lie  mouldering  in  the  dust. 

But  I  would  not  attempt  by  any  sophistry  to  misrep- 
resent slavery  in  order  to  prove  its  dreadful  wickedness.  For, 
I  presume  there  are  none  who  may  read  this  narrative  through, 
whether  Christians  or  slaveholders,  males  or  females,  but  what 
will  admit  it  to  be  a  system  of  the  most  high-handed  oppression 
and  tyranny  that  ever  was  tolerated  by  an  enlightened  nation 

HENRY  BIBB 


INDEX 


Introduction.  .  -  -  .  .  j 

Author's  Preface.  -  -  -  -  -         11 

Chap.  I. — Sketch  of  my  Parentage,  13.  Early  separation  from 
my  Mother^  14.  Hard  Fare,  15.  First  Experiments 
at  running  away,  16.  Earnest  longing  for  Free- 
dom, 17.     Abhorrent  nature  of  Slavery,  IS. 

Chap.  II. — A  fruitless  effort  for  education,  20.  The  Sabbath 
among  Slaves,  21.  Degrading  amusements,  ib 
Why  religion  is  rejected,  24.  Condition  of  poor 
white  people,  ib.     Superstition  among  slaves,  25 


Chap.  III. — My  Courtship  and  Marriage,  33.  Change  of  owner, 
42.  My  first  born,  ib.  Its  sufferings,  43.  My  wife 
abused,  ib.    My  own  anguish,  44. 

Chap.  IV. — My  first  adventure  for  liberty,  46.    Parting  Scene, 

47.  Journey  up  the  river,  48.  Safe  arrival  in  Cin- 
cinnati, 50.  Journey  to  Canada,  51.  Suffering 
from  cold  and  hunger,  52.  Denied  food  and  shelter 
by  some,  ib.  One  noble  exception,  54.  Subsequent 
success,  ib.  Arrival  at  Perrysburgh,  55.  Obtain 
employment  through  the  winter,  ib.  My  return  to 
Kentucky  to  get  my  family,  56. 

CiiAP.  V. — My  safe  arrival  at  Kentucky,  57.  Surprise  and  de- 
light to  find  my  family,  ib.  Plan  for  their  escape, 
projected,  58.  Return  to  Cincinnati,  60.  My  be- 
trayal by  traitors,  61.  Imprisonment  in  Covington, 
Kentucky,  65.  Return  to  slavery,  66.  Infamous 
proposal  of  the, slave  catchers,  67.    My  reply,  68. 


X.  INDEX. 

Chap.  VI. — Arrival  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  72.  Efforts  to  sell 
me,  73.  Fortunate  escape  from  the  man- stealers  in 
the  public  street,  74.  I  return  to  Bedford,  Ky.,  77. 
The  rescue  of  my  family  again  attempted,  79.  I 
started  alone  expecting  them  to  folloAv,  80.  After 
waiting  some  months  I  resolve  to  go  back  again  to 
Kentucky,  83. 

CuAP  Vn. — My  safe  return  to  Kentucky,  84.  The  perils  I  en- 
countered there,  85.  Again  betrayed,  and  taken  by 
a  mob  ,  ironed  and  imprisoned,  86.  Narrow  escape 
from  death^  90.     Life  in  a  slave  pi'ison,  91. 

Chap.  VIIL — Character  of  my  prison  companions,  94.  Jail 
breaking  contemplated,  95.  Defeat  of  our  plan,  97. 
My  wife  and  child  removed,  ib.  Disgraceful  pro- 
posal to  her,  and  cruel  punishment,  98.  Our  de- 
parture in  a  coflae  for  New  Orleans,  99.  Events  of 
our  journey,  ib. 

Chap.  IX. — Our  arrival  and  examination  at  Vicksburg,  101. 
An  account  of  slave  sales,  103.  Cruel  punishment 
with  the  paddle,  ib.  Attempts  to  sell  myself  by 
Garrisou''s  direction,  100.  Amusing  interview  with 
a  slave  buyer,  107.  Deacon  Whitfield's  examination, 
109.  He  purchases  the  family,  110.  Character  of 
•  the  Deacon,  ib. 

Chap.  X, — Cruel  treatment  on  Whitfield's  farm,  112.  Exposure 
of  the  children,  1 16.  Mode  of  extorting  extra 
labor,  1 17.  Neglect  of  the  sick,  ib.  Strange  medi- 
cine used,  118.    Death  of  our  second  child,  ib. 


Chap.  XI. — I  attend  a  prayer  meeting,  119.     Punishment  there- 
,rfjpr  threatened,  120.     I  attempt  to  escape  alone,  121. 
^y  return  to  take  my  ftimily,  122.     Our  sufferings, 
123.     Dreadful  attack   of  wolves,    124.      Oar  re 
capture,  128. 

Chap  XII.— My  sad  condition  before  Whitfield,  131.  My  terri- 
ble punishment,  132.  Incidents  of  a  former  attemxjt 
to  escape,  134.  Jack  at  a  farm  house,  136.  Six 
pigs  and  a  turkey.  138.    Our  surprise  and  arrest,  139, 

Chap.  XIII. — 1  .\m  sold  to  gamblers,  143.  They  try  to  purchase 
my  family,  145.  Our  parting  scene,  147.  My  good 
tisage,  149.     I  am  sold  to  an  Indian,  150.     His  con- 


Chap.  XIY. — Character  of  my  Indian  Master,   152.      Slavery 
among  the  Indians  less  cruel,  153.     Indian  carou 


INDEX. 

Bal,  ib.  Enfeebled  health  of  my  Indian  Master, 
154.  His  death,  ib.  My  escape,  155.  Adventui-e 
in  a  wigwam,  156.  Successful  progress  toward 
liberty,  157. 

Uhap.  XV. — ^Adventure  on  the  Prairie,  159.  I  borrow  a  horse 
without  leave,  162.  Rapid  traveling  one  whole 
night,  ib.  Apology  for  using  other  men's  horse«, 
163.     My  manner  of  living  on  the  road,  164. 

Chap.  XVI. — Stratagem  to  get  on  board  the  steamer,  167.  My 
Irish  friends,  168.  My  success  in  reaching  the 
Ohio,  169.  Reflections  on  again  seeing  Kentucky, 
ib.  I  get  employment  in  a  hotel,  170.  ]\Iy  fright 
at  seeing  the  gambler  who  sold  me,  171.  I  leave 
Ohio  with  Mr.  Smith,  172.  His  letter,  173,  My 
education,  174. 

Chap.  XVII— Letter  from  W.  H.  Gatewood,  175.  My  reply, 
176.  My  efforts  as  a  public  lecturer,  178.  Singu- 
lar incident  in  Steubenville,  179.  Meeting  with  a 
friend  of  Whitfield  in  Michigan,  181.  Outrage  on 
a  canal  packet,  183.  Fruitless  efforts  to  find  my 
wife,  186. 

Chap.  XVIII. — My  last  effort  to  recover  my  family,  188.  Sad 
tidings  of  my  wife,  189.  Her  degradation,  190.  I 
am  compelled  to  regard  our  relation  as  dissolved 
for  ever,  ib. 

Chap.  XIX — Comments  on  S.  Gatewood's  letter  about  slaves 
stealing,  193.  Their  conduct  vindicated,  194,  Com- 
ments on  W.  Gatewood's  letter,  196. 

Chap.  XX. — Review  of  my  narrative,  198.  Licentiousness  a 
prop  of  Slavery,  199.  A  case  of  mild  slavery  given, 
ib.  Its  revolting  features,  200.  Times  of  my  pur- 
chase and  sale  by  professed  Christians,  203.     Con- 


Opinions  of  laiE  Press.  ^50 


NARRATIVE 


OF  THE 


LIFE    OF    HENRY   BIBB. 


CHAPTER   I. 


SkMcIi  of  my  Parentage. — Early  separation  from  my  Mother.— 
Hard  Fare. — First  Experiments  at  running  away. — ^Earnest 
longing  for  Freedom. — Abhorrent  nature  of  Slavery. 

I  was  born  May  1815,  of  a  slave  mother,  in 
Shelby  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  claimed  as 
the  property  of  David  White  Esq.  He  came  in- 
to possession  of  my  mother  long  before  I  was 
born.  I  was  brought  up  in  the  Counties  of  Shel- 
by, Henry,  Oldham,  and  Trimble.  Or,  more  cor- 
rectly speaking,  in  the  above  counties.  I  may  safely 
say,  I  was  Jlogged  up ;  for  where  I  should  have 
received  moral,  mental,  and  religious  instruction, 
I  received  stripes  without  number,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  degrade  and  keep  me  in  subordina- 
tion. I  can  truly  say,  that  I  drank  deeply  of  ^he 
bitter  cup  of  suffering  and  woe.     I  have  been  drag- 


14  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

ged  down  to  the  lowest  depths  of  human  degrada- 
tion and  wretchedness,  by  Slaveholders. 

My  mother  was  known  by  the  name  of  Milldred 
Jackson.  She  is  the  mother  of  seven  slaves  only, 
all  being  sons,  of  whom  I  am  the  eldest.  She 
was  also  so  fortunate  or  unfortunate,  as  to  have 
some  of  what  is  called  the"  slaveholding  blood  flow- 
ing  in  her  veins.  I  know  not  how  much  ;  but  not 
enough  to  prevent  her  children  though  fathered  by 
slaveholders,  from  being  bought  and  sold  in  the  slave 
markets  of  the  South.  It  is  almost  impossible  for 
slaves  to  give  a  correct  account  of  their  male  parent- 
age. All  that  I  know  about  it  is,  that  my  mothei 
informed  me  that  my  fathers  name  was  James  Bibb. 
He  was  doubtless  one  of  the  present  Bibb  family  oj 
Kentucky;  but  I  have  no  personal  knowledge  a' 
him  at  all,  for  he  died  before  my  recollection. 

The  first  time  I  was  separated  from  my  mother,  f 
was  young  and  small.  I  knew  nothing  of  my  condi 
-^  tion  then  as  a  slave.  I  was  living  with  Mr.  White 
whose  wue  died  and  left  him  a  widower  with  on« 
little  girl,  who  was  said  to  be  the  legitimate  ownei 
of  my  mother,  and  all  her  children.  This  girl  waf 
also  my  playmate  wlien  we  were  children. 

I  was  taken  away  from  my  mother,  and  hired  ou'' 
to  labor  for  various  persons,  eight  or  ten  years  it 
succession ;  and  all  my  wages  were  expended  for 
the  education  of  Harriet  White,  my  playmate.  It 
was  then  my  sorrows  and  sufferings  commenced. 
It  was  then  I  first  commenced  seeing  and  feeling 
that  I  was  a  wretched  slave,  compelled  to  work  un- 
der the   lash   without    wages,   and   often   without 


« 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  15 

clothes  enough  to  hide  my  nakedness.  I  have  often 
worked  without  half  enough  to  eat,  both  late  and 
early,  by  day  and  by  night.  I  have  often  laid  my 
wearied  limbs  down  at  night  to  rest  upon  a  dirt 
floor,  or  a  bench,  without  any  covering  at  all,  be- 
cause I  had  no  where  else  to  rest  my  wearied  body, 
after  having  worked  hard  all  the  day.  I  have  also 
been  compelled  in  early  life,  to  go  at  the  bidding  of 
a  tyrant,  through  all  kinds  of  weather,  hot  or  cold, 
wet  or  dry,  and  without  shoes  frequently,  until  the 
month  of  December,  with  my  bare  feet  on  the  cold 
frosty  ground,  cracked  open  and  bleeding  as  I  walk- 
ed. Reader,  believe  me  when  I  say,  that  no  tongue, 
nor  pen  ever  has  or  can  express  the  horrors  of 
American  Slavery.  Consequently  I  despair  in  find- 
ing language  to  express  adequately  the  deep  feel- 
ing of  my  souUas  I  contemplate  the  past  history  of 
my  life.  But  although  I  have  suffered  much  from 
the  lash,  and  for  want  of  food  and  raiment ;  I  con- 
fess that  it  was  no  disadvantage  to  be  passed  through 
the  hands  of  so  many  families,  as  the  only  source 
of  information  that  I  had  to  enlighten  my  mind, 
consisted  in  what  I  could  see  and  hear  from  others. 
Slaves  were  not  allowed  books,  pen,  ink,  nor  paper, 
to  improve  their  minds.  But  it  seems  to  me  now, 
that  I  was  particularly  observing,  and  apt  to  retain 
what  came  under  my  observation.  But  more  espec- 
ially, all  that  I  heard  about  liberty  and  freedom  to 
the  slaves,  I  never  forgot.  Among  other  good 
trades  I  learned  the  art  of  running  away  to  perfec- 
tion. I  made  a  regular  business  of  it,  and  never 
gave  it  up,  until  I  had  broken  the  bands  of  slavery, 


16  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

and  landed  myself  safely  in  Canada,  where  I  was  re- 
garded as  a  man,  and  not  as  a  thing. 

The  first  time  in  my  life  that  I  ran  away,  was  for 
ill  treatment,  in  1825.  I  was  living  with  a  Mr. 
Vires,  in  the  village  of  Newcastle.  His  wife  was  a 
very  cross  woman.  She  was  every  day  flogging  me, 
boxing,  pulling  my  ears,  and  scolding,  so  that  I 
dreaded  to  enter  the  room  where  she  was.  This 
first  started  me  to  running  away  from  them.  I  was 
often  gone  several  days  before  I  was  caught.  They 
would  abuse  me  for  going  off,  but  it  did  no  good. 
The  next  time  they  flogged  me,  I  was  off  again  ;  but 
after  awhile  they  got  sick  of  their  bargain,  and  re- 
turned me  back  into  the  hands  of  my  owners.  By 
this  time  Mr.  White  had  married  his  second  wife. 
She  was  what  I  call  a  tyrant.  I  lived  with  her 
several  months,  but  she  kept  me  alnwst  half  of  my 
time  in  the  woods,  running  from  under  the  bloody 
lash.  While  I  was  at  home  she  kept  me  all  the 
time  rubbing  furniture,  washing,  scrubbing  the 
floors ;  and  when  I  was  not  doing  this,  she  would 
often  seat  herself  in  a  large  rocking  chair,  with 
two  pillows  about  her,  and  would  make  me  rock 
her,  and  keep  off  the  flies.  She  was  too  lazy  to 
scratch  her  own  head,  and  would  often  make  me 
scratch  and  comb  it  for  her.  She  would  at  other 
times  lie  on  her  be(J,  in  warm  wca^Jier,  and  make 
me  fan  her  while  she  slept,  scratch  and  rub  her  feet ; 
but  after  awhile  she  got  sick  of  me,  and  preferred  a 
maiden  servant  to  do  such  business.  I  was  then 
hired  out  again ;  but  by  this  time  I  had  become 
much   better  skilled  in  running    away,  and  would 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  17 

make  calciilatMn  to  avoid  detection,  bv  taking  with 
me  a  bridle.  If  any  body  should  see  me  in  the 
woods,  as  they  have,  and  asked  "  what  are  you 
doing  here  sir.  ?  you  are  a  runaway  ?" — I  said,  "no, 
sir,  I  am  looking  for  our  old  mare;"  at  other  times, 
"looking  for  our  cows."  For  such  excuses  I  was 
let  pass.  In  fact,  the  only  weapon  of  self  defence 
that  I  could  use  successfully,  was  that  of  deception. 
It  is  useless  for  a  poor  helpless  slave,  to  resist  a 
white  man  in  a  slaveholding  State.  Public  opinion 
and  the  law  is  against  him ;  and  resistance  in  many 
cases  is  death  to  the  slave,  while  the  law  declares, 
that  he  shall  submit  or  die.  ^ 

The  circumstances  in  which  I  was  then  placed, 
gave  me  a  longing  desire  to  be  free.  It  kindled  a 
fire  of  liberty  within  my  breast  which  has  never 
yet  been  quenched.  This  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  my 
nature  ;  it  was  first  revealed  to  me  by  the  inevitable 
laws  of  nature's  God.  I  could  see  that  the  All- wise 
Creator,  had  made  man  a  free,  moral,  intelligent  and 
accountable  being  ;  capable  of  knowing  good  and 
evil.  And  I  believed  then,  as  I  believe  now,  that 
every  man  has  a  right  to  wages  for  his  labor ;  a 
right  to  his  own  wife  and  children ;  a  right  to  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness  ;  and  a  right  to  wor- 
ship God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  con- 
science. But  here,  in  the  light  of  these  truths,  I 
was  a  slave,  a  prisoner  for  life;  I  could  possess 
nothing,  nor  acquire  anything  but  what  must  be- 
long to  my  keeper.  No  one  can  imagine  my  feelings 
in  my  reflecting  moments,  but  he  who  has  himself 
been  a  slave.     Oh  !  I  have  often  Wept  over  my  con- 


18  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

dition,  while  sauntering  through  th?  forest,  to  es- 
cape cruel  punishment. 

"  No  arm  to  protect  me  from  tyrants  aggression ; 

No  parents  to  cheer  me  ■when  laden  with  grief. 

Man  may  picture  the  bounds  of  the  rocks  and  the  rivers, 

The  hills  and  the  valleys,  the  lakes  and  the  ocean, 

But  the  horrors  of  slavery,  he  never  can  trace." 

The  term  slave  to  this  day  sounds  with  terror  to 
my  soul, — a  word  too  obnoxious  to  speak— ^a  system 
too  intolerable  to  be  endured.     I  know   this  from 
long  and  sad  experience.     I  now  feel  as  if  I  had 
just  been  aroused  fj-om  sleep,  and  looking  back  with 
quickened  perception  at  the  state  of  torment  from 
whence  I  fled.     I  was   there  held  and  claimed  as  a 
slave  ;  as  such  I  was  subjected  to  the  will  and  pow- 
er of  my  keeper,  in  all  respects  whatsoever.     That 
the  slave  is  a  human  being,  no  one  can  deny.     It  is 
his  lot  to  be  exposed  in  common  with  other  men, 
to  the  calamities  of  sickness,  death,  and  the  misfor- 
tunes incident  to  life.     But  unlike  other  men,  he  is 
denied  the  consolation  of  struggling  against  exter- 
nal diffculties,  such  as  destroy  the  life,  liberty,  and 
happiness  of  himself  and  family.     A  slave  may  be 
bought  and  sold  in  the  market  like  an  ox.     He  is 
liable  to  be  sold  off  to  a  distant  land  from  his  family. 
He  is  bound  in  chains  hand  and  foot ;  and  his  suf- 
ferings are  aggravated  a  hundredfold,  by  the  terrible 
thought,  that  he  is  not  allowed  to  struggle  against 
misfortune,  corporeal  punishment,  insults  and  out- 
rages committed  upon  himself  and  family ;  and  he 
is  not  allowed  to  help  himself,  to  resist  or  escape 
the  blow,  which  he  sees  impending  over  him. 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 


19 


This  idea  of  utter  helplessness,  in  perpetual  bond- 
age, is  the  more  distressing,  as  there  is  no  period 
even  with  the  remotest  generation  when  it  shall 
terminate. 


# 


CHAPTER   II 


A  fruitless  eftort.  for  education. — The  Sabbath  among  Slaves. — 
Degrading  amusements. — Why  religion  is  rejectei. — Condi- 
tion of  poor  white  people. — Superstition  among  slaves. — Edu- 
cation forbidden. 

In  1833,  I  had  some  very  serious  religious  impres- 
sions, and  there  was  quite  a  number  of  slaves  in 
that  neighborhood,  who  felt  very  desirous  to  be 
taught  to  read  the  Bible.  There  was  a  Miss  Davis, 
a  poor  white  girl,  who  oifered  to  teach  a  Sabbath 
School  for  the  slaves,  notwithstanding  public  opin- 
ion and  the  law  was  opposed  to  it.  Books  were 
furnished  and  she  commenced  the  school ;  but  the 
news  soon  got  to  our  o^valers  that  she  was  teaching 
us  to  read.  This  caused  quite  an  excitement  in  the 
neighborhood.  Patrols*  were  appointed  to  go  and 
break  it  up  the  next  Sabbath.  They  were  deter- 
mined that  we  should  not  have  a  ISabbath  School  in 
operation.  For  slaves  this  was  called  an  incendiary 
movement. 

The  Sabbath  is  not  regarded  by  a  large  number 
of  the  slaves  as  a  day  of  rest.  They  have  no  schools 
to  go  to ;  no  moral  nor  religious  instruction  at  all 
in  many  localities    where   there    are   hundieds    of 

*  Police  peculiar  to  the  South. 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  23 

slaves.  Hence  they  resort  to  some  kind  of  amuse- 
ment. Those  who  make  no  profession  of  religion, 
resort  to  the  woods  in  large  numbers  on  that  day 
to  gamble,  fight,  get  drunk,  and  break  the  Sabbath. 
This  is  often  encouraged  by  slaveholders.  When 
they  wish  to  have  a  little  sport  of  that  kind,  they 
go  among  the  slaves  and  give  them  whiskey,  to  see 
them  dance,  "  pat  juber,"  sing  and  play  on  the  ban- 
jo. Then  get  them  to  wrestling,  fighting,  jumping, 
running  foot  races,  and  butting  each  other  like 
sheep.  This  is  urged  on  by  giving  them  whiskey  ; 
making  bets  on  them  ;  laying  chips  on  one  slave's 
head,  and  daring  another  to  tip  it  off  with  his  hand  ; 
and  if  he  tipped  it  off,  it  would  be  called  an  insult, 
and  cause  a  fight.  Before  fighting,  the  parties  choose 
their  seconds  to  stand  by  them  while  fighting  ;  a 
ring  or  a  circle  is  formed  to  fight  in,  and  no  one  is 
allowed  to  enter  the  ring  while  they  are  fighting,  but 
their  seconds,  and  the  white  gentlemen.  They  are 
not  allowed  to  fight  a  duel,  nor  to  use  weapons  of 
any  kind.  The  blows  are  made  by  kicking,  knock- 
ing, and  butting  with  their  heads  ;  they  grab  each 
other  by  their  ears,  and  jam  their  heads  together 
like  sheep.  If  they  are  likely  to  hurt  each  other 
very  bad,  their  masters  would  rap  them  with  their 
walking  canes,  and  make  them  stop.  After  fighting, 
they  make  friends,  shake  hands,  and  take  a  dram 
together,  and  there  is  no  more  of  it. 

But  this  is  all  principally  for  want  of  moral  in- 
struction. This  is  where  they  have  no  Sabbath 
Schools;  no  one  to  read  the  Bible  to  them;  no  one 
to  preach  the  gospel  who  is  competent  to  expoimd 


24  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

the  Scriptures,  except  slaveholders.  And  the  slaves, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  have  no  confidence  at  all 
in  their  preaching,  because  they  preach  a  pro-slavery 
doctrine.  They  say,  "  Servants  be  obedient  to  your 
masters  ; — and  he  that  knoweth  his  master's  will  and 
doeth  it  not,  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes  ; — 
means  that  God  will  send  them  to  hell,  if  they  disobey 
their  masters.  This  kind  of  preaching  has  driven 
thousands  into  infidelity.  They  view  themselves 
as  suffering  unjustly  under  the  lash,  without  friends, 
without  protection  of  law  or  gospel,  and  the  green 
eyed  monster  tyranny  staring  them  in  the  face. 
They  know  that  they  are  destined  to  die  in  that 
wretched  condition,  unless  they  are  delivered  by 
the  arm  of  Omnipotence.  And  they  cannot  believe 
or  trust  in  such  a  religion,  as  above  named. 

The  poor  and  loafering  class  of  whites,  are  about 
on  a  par  in  point  of  morals  with  the  slaves  at  the 
South.  They  are  generally  ignorant,  intemperate, 
licentious,  and  profane.  They  associate  much  with 
the  slaves ;  are  often  found  gambling  together  on 
the  Sabbath ;  encouraging  slaves  to  steal  from  their 
owners,  and  sell  to  them,  corn,  wheat,  sheep,  chick- 
ens, or  any  thing  of  the  kind  which  they  can  well 
conceal.  For  such  offences  there  is  no  law  to  reach 
a  slave  but  lynch  law.  But  if  both  parties  are 
caught  in  the  act  by  a  white  person,  the  slave  is 
punished  with  the  lash,  while  the  white  man  is 
often  punished  with  both  lynch  and  commjn  law. 
But  there  is  another  class  of  poor  white  people  in 
the  South,  who,  I  think  would  be  glad  to  see  slavery 
abolished  in  self  defence  ;  they  despise  the  institu- 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  25 

tion  because  it  is  impoverishing  and  degrading  to 
them  and  their  children. 

The  slave  holders  are  generally  rich,  aristocratic, 
overbearing ;  and  they  look  with  utter  contempt 
upon  a  poor  laboring  man,  who  earns  his  bread  by 
the  "  sweat  of  his  brow,"  whether  he  be  moral  or 
immoral,  honest  or  dishonest.  No  matter  whether 
he  is  white  or  black ;  if  he  performs  manual  labor 
for  a  livelihood,  he  is  looked  upon  as  being  inferior 
to  a  slaveholder,  and  but  little  better  off  than  the 
slave,  who  toils  without  wages  under  the  lash.  It 
is  true,  that  the  slaveholder,  and  non-slaveholder, 
are  living  under  the  same  laws  in  the  same  State. 
But  the  one  is  rich,  the  other  is  poor  ;  one  is  edu- 
cated, the  other  is  uneducated ;  one  has  houses, 
land  and  influence,  the  other  has  none.  This  being 
the  case,  that  class  of  the  non- slaveholders  would 
be  glad  to  see  slavery  abolished,  but  they  dare  not 
speak  it  aloud. 

There  is  much  superstition  among  the  slaves 
Many  of  them  believe  in  what  they  call  "  conjura- 
tion," tricking,  and  witchcraft ;  and  some  of  them 
pretend  to  understand  the  art,  and  say  that  by  it 
they  can  prevent  their  masters  from  exercising  their 
will  over  their  slaves.  Such  are  often  applied  to 
by  others,  to  give  them  power  to  prevent  their  mas- 
ters from  flogging  them.  The  remedy  is  most  gen- 
erally some  kind  of  bitter  root ;  they  are  directed 
to  chew  it  and  spit  towards  their  masters  when  they 
are  angry  with  their  slaves.  At  other  times  they 
prepare  certain  kinds  of  powders,  to  sprinkle  about 
their  masters  dwellings.     This  is  all  done  for  the 


26  NARExVTIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

purpose  of  defending  themselves  in  some  peaceable 
manner,  although  I  am  satisfied  that  there  is  no 
virtue  at  all  in  it.  I  have  tried  it  to  perfection 
when  I  was  a  slave  at  the  South.  I  was  then  a 
young  man,  full  of  life  and  vigor,  and  was  very 
fond  of  visiting  our  neighbors  slaves,  but  had  no 
time  to  visit  only  Sundays,  when  I  could  get  a  per- 
mit to  go,  or  after  night,  when  I  could  slip  off  with- 
out being  seen.  If  it  was  found  out,  the  next  morn- 
ing I  was  called  up  to  give  a,n  account  of  myself  for 
going  off  without  permission  ;  and  would  very  often 
get  a  flogging  for  it. 

I  got  myself  into  a  scrape  at  a  certain  time,  by 
going  off  in  this  way,  and  I  expected  to  be  severely 
punished  for  it.  I  had  a  strong  notion  of  running 
off,  to  escape  being  flogged,  but  was  advised  by  a 
friend  to  go  to  one  of  those  conjurers,  who  could 
prevent  me  from  being  flogged.  I  went  and  inform- 
ed him  of  the  difficulty.  He  said  if  I  would  pay 
him  a  small  sum,  he  would  prevent  my  being  flogged. 
After  I  had  paid  him,  he  mixed  up  some  alum,  salt 
and  other  stuff  into  a  powder,  and  said  I  must 
sprinkle  it  about  my  master,  if  he  should  offer  to 
strike  me  ;  this  would  prevent  him.  He  also  gave 
me  some  kind  of  bitter  root  to  chew,  and  spit 
towards  him,  which  would  certainly  prevent  my 
being  flogged.  According  to  order  I  used  his  rem- 
edy, and  for  some  cause  I  was  let  pass  without 
being  flogged  that  time. 

I  had  then  great  faith  in  conjuration  and  witch- 
craft I  was  led  to  believe  that  I  could  do  almost 
as  I  pleased,   without  being  flogged.      So    on    the 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  27 

next  Sabbatli  my  conjuration  was  fully  tested  by 
my  going  off,  and  staying  away  until  Monday  morn- 
ing, without  permission.  When  I  returned  home, 
my  master  declared  that  he  would  punish  me  foy 
going  off;  but  I  did  not  believe  that  he  could  do  it 
while  I  had  this  root  and  dust ;  and  as  he  approach- 
ed me,  I  commenced  talking  saucy  to  him.  But  he 
soon  convinced  me  that  there  was  no  virtue  in  them. 
He  became  so  enraged  at  me  for  saucing  him,  that 
he  grasped  a  handful  of  switches  and  punished  me 
severely,  in  spite  of  all  my  roots  and  powders. 

But  there  was  another  old  slave  in  that  neighboi-- 
hood,  who  professed  to  understand  all  about  conju- 
ration, and  I  thought  I  would  try  his  skill.  He 
told  me  that  the  first  one  was  only  a  quack,  and  if 
I  would  only  pay  him  a  certain  amount  in  cash, 
that  he  would  tell  me  how  to  prevent  any  person 
from  striking  me.  After  I  had  paid  him  his  charge, 
he  told  me  to  go  to  the  cow-pen  after  night,  and  get 
some  fresh  cow  manure,  and  mix  it  with  red  pepper 
and  white  people's  hair,  all  to  be  put  into  a  pot 
over  the  fire,  and  scorched  until  it  could  be  ground 
into  snuff.  I  was  then  to  sprinkle  it  about  my  mas- 
ter's bedroom,  in  his  hat  and  boots,  and  it  would  pre- 
vent him  from  ever  abusing  me  in  any  way.  After  I 
got  it  all  ready  prepared,  the  smallest  ^inch  of  it  scat- 
tered over  a  room,  was  enough  to  make  a  horse 
sneeze  from  the  strength  of  it ;  but  it  did  no  good, 
I  tried  it  to  my  satisfaction.  It  was  my  business  to 
make  fires  in  my  master's  chamber,  night  and  morn- 
ing. Whenever  I  could  get  a  chance,  I  sprinkled  a 
little  of  this  dust  about  the  linen  of  the  bed,  where 


28  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

they  would  breathe  it  on  retiring.  This  was  to 
act  upon  them  as  what  is  called  a  kind  of  love 
powder,  to  change  their  sentiments  of  anger,  to 
those  of  love,  towards  me,  but  this  all  proved  to  be 
vain  imagination.  The  old  man  had  my  money, 
and  I  was  treated  no  better  for  it. 

One  night  wdien  I  went  in  to  make  a  fire,  I  avail- 
ed myself  of  the  opportunity  of  sprinkling  a  very 
heavy  charge  of  this  powder  about  my  master's  bed.* 
Soon  after  their  going  to  bed,  they  began  to  cough 
and  sneeze.  Being  close  around  the  house,  watch- 
ing and  listening,  to  know  what  the  effect  would 
be,  I  heard  them  ask  each  other  what  in  the  world 
it  could  be,  that  made  them  cough  and  sneeze  so. 
All  the  while,  I  was  trembling  with  fear,  expecting 
every  moment  I  should  be  called  and  asked  if  I 
knew  any  thing  about  it.  After  this,  for  fear  they 
might  find  me  out  in  my  dangerous  experiments 
upon  them,  I  had  to  give  them  up,  for  the  time 
being.  I  was  then  convinced  that  running  away 
was  the  most  effectual  way  by  which  a  slave  could 
escape  cruel  punishment. 

As  all  the  instrumentalities  wnich  I  as  a  slave, 
could  bring  to  bear  upon  the  system,  iiad  utterly 
failed  to  palliate  my  sufferings,  all  hope  and  conso- 
lation fled,  t  must  be  a  slave  for  life,  and  suffer 
under  the  lash  or  die.  The  influence  which  this 
had  only  tended  to  make  me  more  unhappy.  I  re- 
solved that  I  would  be  free  if  running  away  could 
make  me  so.  1  had  heard  that  Canada  was  a  land 
of  liberty,  somewhere  in  the  North  ;  and  every  wave 
of  trouble  that  rolled  across  mv  breast,  caused  me 


NAREATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  29 

to  think  more  and  more  about  Canada,  and  liberty. 
But  more  especially  after  having  been  flogged,  I 
have  fled  to  the  highest  hills  of  the  forest,  pressing 
my  way  to  the  North  for  refuge  ;  but  the  river  Ohio 
was  my  limit.  To  me  it  was  an  impassable  gulf. 
I  had  no  rod  wherewith  to  smite  the  stream,  and 
thereby  divide  the  waters.  I  had  no  Moses  to  go 
before  me  and  lead  the  way  from  bondage  to  a  pro- 
mised land.  Yet  I  was  in  a  far  worse  state  than 
Egyptian  bondage  ;  for  they  had  houses  and  land  ; 
I  had  none  ;  they  had  oxen  and  sheep  ;  I  had  none  ; 
they  had  a  wise  counsel,  to  tell  them  what  to 
do,  and  where  to  go,  and  even  to  go  with  them  ; 
I  had  none.  I  was  surrounded  by  opposition  on 
every  hand.  My  friends  were  few  and  far  be- 
tween. I  have  often  felt  when  running  away  as  if 
I  had  scarcely  a  friend  on  earth. 

Sometimes  standing  on  the  Ohio  River  blufi^, 
looking  over  on  a  free  State,  and  as  far  north  as 
my  eyes  could  see,  I  have  eagerly  gazed  upon 
the  blue  sky  of  the  free  North,  which  at  times 
constrained  me  to  cry  out  from  the  depths  of 
ray  soul,  Oh !  Canada,  sweet  land  of  rest — Oh  ! 
when  shall  I  get  there  ?  Oh,  that  I  had  the  wings 
of  a  dove,  that  I  might  soar  away  to  where  there 
is  no  slavery;  no  clanking  of  chains,  no  cap- 
tives, no  lacerating  of  backs,  no  parting  of  hus- 
bands and  wives  ;  and  where  man  ceases  to  be  the 
property  of  his  fellov/  man.  These  thoughts  have 
revolved  in  my  mind  a  thousand  times.  I  have 
stood  upon  the  lofty  banks  of  the  river  Ohio,  gazing 
upon  the  splendid  steamboats,  wafted  with  all  their 


30  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

magnificence  up  and  down  the  river,  and  I  fcLought 
of  tlie  fishes  of  the  water,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  the 
wild  beasts  of  the  forest,  all  appeared  to  be  free,  to 
go  just  where  they  pleased,  and  I  was  an  unhappy 
slave  ! 

But  my  attention  was  gradually  turned  in  a 
measure  from  this  subject,  by  being  introduced  into 
the  society  of  young  women.  This  for  the  time 
being  took  my  attention  from  running  away,  as 
waiting  on  the  girls  appeared  to  be  perfectly  con- 
genial to  my  nature.  I  wanted  to  be  well  thought 
of  by  them,  and  would  go  to  great  lengths  to  gain 
their  affection.  I  had  been  taught  by  the  old  super- 
stitious  slaves,  to  believe  in  conjuration,  and  it  was 
hard  for  me  to  give  up  the  notion,  for  all  I  had  been 
deceived  by  them.  One  of  these  conjurers,  for  a 
small  sum  agreed  to  teach  me  to  make  any  girl  love 
me  that  I  wished.  After  I  had  paid  him,  he  told  me 
to  get  a  bull  frog,  and  take  a  certain  bone  out  of  the 
frog,  dry  it,  and  when  I  got  a  chance  I  must  step 
up  to  any  girl  whom  I  wished  to  make  love  me,  and 
scratch  her  somewhere  on  her  naked  skin  with  this 
bone,  and  she  would  be  certain  to  love  me,  and 
would  follow  me  in  spite  of  herself ;  no  matter  who 
she  might  be  engaged  to,  nor  who  she  might  be  walk- 
ing with. 

So  I  got  me  a  bone  for  a  certain  girl,  whom  I 
knew  to  be  under  the  influence  of  another  young 
man.  I  happened  to  meet  her  in  the  company  of  her 
lover,  one  Sunday  evening,  walking  out ;  so  when  I 
get  a  chance,  I  fetched  her  a  tremendous  rasp  across 
her  neck  with  this  bone,  which  made  her  jump.    Bu^ 


Narrative  op  henry  bibb.  '6i 

U  place  of  making  her  love  me,  it  only  mad»  her 
angry  with  me.  She  felt  more  Jike  running  nftei 
me  to  retaliate  on  me  for  thus  abusing  her,  than  she 
felt  like  loving  me.  After. I  found  there  was  no  vir- 
tue in  the  bone  of  a  frog,  I  thought  I  would  try  uome 
other  way  to  carry  out  my  object.  I  then  sought 
another  counsellor  among  the  old  superstitious  in- 
fluential sia.ves  ;  one  who  professed  to  be  a  great 
friend  of  mine,  told  me  to  get  a  lock  of  hair  from  the 
head  of  any  girl,  and  wear  it  in  my  shoes  :  this 
w^ould  cause  her  to  love  me  above  all  other  persons. 
As  there  was  another  girl  whose  affections  I  was 
anxious  to  gain^  but  could  not  succeed,  I  thought, ' 
without  trying  the  experiment  of  this  hair.  I  slip- 
ped off  one  night  to  see  the  girl,  and  asked  her  for  a 
lock  of  her  hair  ;  but  she  refused  to  give  it.  Be- 
lieving that  my  success  depended  greatly  upon  this 
bunch  of  hair,  I  was  bent  on  having  a  lock  before  I 
left  that  night  let  it  cost  what  it  might.  As  it  was 
time  for  me  to  start  home  in  order  to  get  any  sleep 
that  night,  I  grasped  hold  of  a  lock  of  her  hair, 
which  caused  her  to  screech,  but  I  never  let  go  until 
I  had  pulled  it  out.  This  of  course  made  the  girl 
mad  with  me,  and  I  accomplished  nothing  but  gained 
her  displeasure. 

Such  are  the  superstitious  notions  of  the  great 
masses  of  southern  slaves.  It  is  given  to  them  by 
tradition,  and  can  never  be  erased,  while  the  doors  of 
education  are  bolted  and  barred  against  them.  But 
there  is  a  prohibition  by  law,  of  mental  and  religious 
instruction.  The  state  of  Georgia,  by  an  act  of 
1770,  declared  "  that  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  anv 


32  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

number  of  free  negroes,  mo]  attoes  ormestinos,  or  even 
slaves  in  company  v/ith  white  persons,  to  meet  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  mental  instruction,  either 
before  the  rising  of  the  sun  or  after  the  going  down 
of  the  same."  2d  Brevard's  Digest,  254-5.  Similar 
laws  exist  in  most  of  the  slave  States,  and  patrols 
are  sent  out  after  night  and  on  the  Sabbath  day  to 
enforce  them.  They  go  through  their  respective 
towns  to  prevent  slaves  from  meeting  for  religious 
worship  or  mental  instruction. 

This  is  the  regulation  and  law  of  American 
Slavery,  as  sanctioned  by  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  and  without  which  it  could  not  exist. 
And  almost  the  whole  moral,  political,  and  religious 
power  of  the  nation  are  in  favor  of  slavery  and  ag- 
gression, and  against  liberty  and  justice.  I  only 
judge  by  their  actions,  which  speak  louder  than 
words.  Slaveholders  are  put  into  the  highest  offices 
in  the  gift  of  the  people  in  both  Church  and  State, 
thereby  making  slaveholding  popular  and  reputable. 


CHAPTER   III. 


My  Courtpliip  and  Marriage.— Change  of  owner. — My  first  bora, 
— Its  sufferings. — My  wife  abused. — My  own  anguish.. 

The  circumstances  of  my  courtship  and  marriage, 
I  consider  to  be  among  the  most  renmrkable  events 
of  my  life  while  a  slave.  To  think  that  after  I  had 
determined  to  carry  out  the  great  idea  which  is  so 
universally  and  joractically  acknowledged  among 
all  the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  that  I  would 
be  free  or  die,  I  suffered  myself  to  be  turned  aside 
by  the  fascinating  charms  of  a  female,  who  gradually 
won  my  attention  from  an  object  so  high  as  that  of 
liberty ;  and  an  object  which  I  held  paramount  to 
all  others. 

But  when  I  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  which 
was  in  the  year  of  1833,  it  was  my  lot  to  be  intro- 
duced to  the  favor  of  a  mulatto  slave  girl  na7ned 
Malinda,  who  lived  in  Oldham  County,  Kentucky, 
about  four  miles  from  the  residence  of  my  owner. 
Malinda  Was  a  medium  sized  girl,  graceful  in  her 
walk,  of  an  extraordinary  make,  and  active  in  busi- 
ness. Her  skin  was  of  a  smooth  texture,  red 
cheeks,  with  dark  and  penetrating  eyes.  She  mov- 
ed in  the  highest  circle*  of  slaves,  and  free  people  of 

*  The  distinction  among  slaves  is  as  marked,  as  the  classes  of 
society  are  in  any  aristocratic  community.  Some  refusing  to 
associate  with  others  whom  they  deem  beneath  them  in  point  of 
character,  color,  condition,  or  the  superior  importance  of  their 
respective  masters. 


34  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

color.  She  was  also  one  of  the  best  singers  I  ever 
heard,  and  was  much  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her, 
for  her  benevolence,  talent  and  industry.  In  "fact, 
T  considered  Malinda  to  be  equalled  by  few,  and  sur- 
passed by  none,  for  the  above  qualities,  all  things 
considered. 

It  is  truly  marvellous  to  see  how  sudden  a  man's 
mind  can  be  changed  by  the  charms  and  influence  of 
a  female.  The  first  two  or  three  visits  that  I  paid 
this  dear  girl,  I  had  no  intention  of  courting  or  marry- 
ing her,  for  I  was  aware  that  such  a  step  would 
greatly  obstruct  my  way  to  the  land  of  liberty.  I 
only  visited  Malinda  because  I  liked  her  company, 
as  a  highly  interesting  girl.  But  in  spite  of  myself, 
before  I  was  aware  of  it,  I  was  deeply  in  love ;  and 
what  made  this  passion  so  effectual  and  almost  irre- 
sistable,  I  became  satisfied  that  it  was  reciprocal. 
There  was  a  union  of  feeling,  and  every  visit  made 
the  impression  stronger  and  stronger.  One  or  two 
other  young  men  were  paying  attention  to' Malinda, 
at  the  same  time ;  one  of  whom  her  mother  was 
anxious  to  have  her  marry.  This  of  course  gave 
me  a  fair  opportunity  of  testing  Malinda's  sincerity. 
I  had  just  about  opposition  enough  to  make  the 
subject  interesting.  That  Malinda  loved  me  above 
all  others  on  earth,  no  one  could  deny.  I  could  read  it 
b}^  the  warm  reception  with  which  the  dear  girl  always 
met  me,  and  treated  me  in  her  mother's  house.  I 
could  read  it  by  the  warm  and  affectionate  shake  of 
the  hand,  and  gentle  smile  upon  her  lovely  cheek.  I 
could  read  it  by  her  always  giving  me  the  preference 
of  her  company  ;  by  her  pressing  invitations  to  visit 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  35 

even  in  opposition  to  lier  mother's  will.  J  could 
read  it  in  the  language  of  her  bright  and  sparkling  eye, 
penciled  by  the  unchangable  finger  of  nature,  that 
spake  but  could  not  lie.  These  strong  temptations 
gradually  diverted  my  attention  from  my  actual 
condition  and  from  liberty,  though  not  entirely. 

But  oh !  that  I  had  only  then  been  enabled  to  have 
seen  as  I  do  now,  or  to  have  read  the  following  slave 
code,  which  is  but  a  stereotyped  law  of  American 
slavery.  It  would  have  saved  me  I  think  from  hav- 
ing to  lament  that  I  was  a  husband  and  am  the 
father  of  slaves  who  are  still  left  to  linger  out  their 
days  in  hopeless  bondage.  The  laws  of  Kentucky, 
my  native  State,  with  Maryland  and  Virginia,  which 
are  said  to  be  the  mildest  slave  States  in  the  Union, 
noted  for  their  humanity,  Christianity  and  democ- 
rac3^  declare  that  "Any  slave,  for  rambling  in  the 
night,  or  riding  horseback  without  leave,  or  running 
away,  may  be  punished  by  whipping,  cropping  and 
brajiding  in  the  cheek,  or  otherwise,  not  rendering 
him  unfit  for  labor."  "  Any  slave  convicted  of 
petty  larceny,  murder,  or  wilfully  burning  of  dwelling 
houp^5,  may  be  sentenced  to  have  his  right  hand  cut 
"off:  to  be  hanged  in  the  usual  manner,  or  the  head 
severed  from  the  body,  the  body  divided  into  four 
quarters,  and  head  and  quarters  stuck  up  in  the 
most  public  place  in  the  county,  where  such  act 
was  committed." 

At  the  time  I  joined  my  wife  in  holy  wedlock,  I 
was  ignorant  of  these  ungodly  laws  ;  I  knew  not 
that  I  was  propogating  victims  for  this  kind  of  tor 
ture  and  crueHv.     Malinda's  mother  was  free,  and 


36  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

lived  in  Bedford,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  her 
daughter  ;  and  we  often  met  and  passed  off  the  time 
pleasantly.  Agreeable  to  promise,  on  one  Saturday- 
evening,  I  called  to  see  IMalinda,  at  her  mother's 
residence,  with  an  intention  of  letting  her  know  my 
mind  upon  the  subject  of  marriage.  It  was  a  very 
bright  moonlight  night ;  the  dear  girl  was  standing 
in  the  door,  anxiously  w^aiting  my  arrival.  As  I 
approached  the  door  she  caught  my  hand  with  an 
affectionate  smile,  and  bid  me  w^elcome  to  her 
mother's  fireside.  After  having  broached  the  sub- 
ject of  marriage,  I  informed  her  of  the  ditliculties 
which  I  conceived  to  be  in  the  way  of  our  marriage; 
and  that  I  could  never  engage  myself  to  marry  any 
girl  only  on  certain  conditions  ;  near  as  I  can  recol- 
lect the  substance  of  our  conversation  upon  the 
subject,  it  was,  that  I  was  religiously  inclined;  that 
I  intended  to  try  to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of 
the  gospel,  both  theoretically  and  practically  through 
life.  Also  that  I  was  decided  on  becoming  a  free 
man  before  I  died  ;  and  that  I  expected  to  get  free 
by  running  away,  and  going  to  Canada,  under  the 
British  Government.  Agreement  on  those  two  car- 
dinal questions  I  made  my  test  for  marriage. 

I  said,  "  I  never  will  give  my  heart  nor  hand  to 
any  girl  in  marriage,  until  I  first  know  her  senti- 
ments upon  the  all-important  subjects  of  Religion 
and  Liberty.  No  matter  how  well  I  might  love  her, 
nor  how  great  the  sacrifice  in  carrying  out  these 
God-given  principles.  And  I  here  pledge  myself 
from  this  course  never  to  be  shaken  while  a  single 
pulsation  of  m.y  heart   shall  continue  to  throb  for 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  37 

Liberty."  With  this  idea  Malinda  appeared  to  be 
well  pleased,  and  with  a  smile  she  looked  me  in  the 
face  and  said,  "  I  have  long  entertained  the  same 
views,  and  this  has  been  one  of  the  greatest  reasons 
why  I  have  not  felt  inclined  to  enter  the  married 
state  while  a  slave  ;  I  have  always  felt  a  desire  t. 
be  free  ;  I  have  long  cherished  a  hope  that  I  should 
yet  be  free,  either  by  purchase  or  running  away. 
In  regard  to  the  subject  of  Eeligion,  I  have  always 
felt  th^t  it  was  a  good  thing,  and  something  that  I 
would  sejek  for  at  some  future  period."  After  I 
found  that  Malinda  was  right  upon  these  all  impor- 
tant questions,  and  that  she  truly  loved  me  well 
enough  to  make  me  an  affectionate  wife,  I  made  pro- 
posals for  marriage.  She  very  modestly  declined 
answering  the  question  then,  considering  it  to  be 
one  of  a  grave  character,  and  upon  which  our  future 
destiny  greatly  depended.  And  notwithstanding  she 
confessed  that  I  had  her  entire  affections,  she  must 
have  some  time  to  consider  the  matter.  To  this  I 
of  course  consented,  and  was  to  meet  her  on  the 
next  Saturday  night  to  decide  the  question.  But 
for  some  cause  I  failed  to  come,  and  the  next  week 
she  sent  for  me,  and  on  the  Sunday  evening  follow- 
ing I  called  on  her  again  ;  she  welcomed  me  with  all 
the  kindness  of  an  affectionate  lover,  and  seated  me 
by  her  side.  We  soon  broached  the  old  subject  of 
marriage,  and  entered  upon  a  conditional  contract 
of  matrimony,  viz  :  that  we  would  marry  if  our 
minds  should  not  change  within  one  year  ;  that  after 
marriage  we  would  change  our  former  course  and 
live  a  pious  life ;  and   that  we  would  embrace  the 


38  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

earliest  opportunity  of  running  away  to  Canada  for 
our  liberty.  Clasping  each  other  by  the  hand,  pledg- 
ing our  sacred  honor  that  we  would  be  true,  we 
called  on  high  heaven  to  witness  the  rectitude  of  our 
purpose.  There  was  nothing  that  could  be  more 
binding  upon  us  as  slaves  than  this ;  for  marriage 
among  American  slaves,  is  disregarded  by  the  laws 
of  this  country.  It  is  counted  a  mere  temporary 
matter ;  it  is  a  union  which  may  be  continued  or 
broken  off,  with  or  without  the  consent  of  a  i^ave- 
holder,  whether  he  is  a  priest  or  a  libertine. 

There  is  no  legal  marriage  among  the  slaves  of 
the  South  ;  I  never  saw  nor  heard  of  such  a  thing 
in  my  life,  and  I  have  been  through  seven  of  the 
slave  states.  A  slave  marrying  according  to  law,  is 
a  thing  unknown  in  the  history  of  American  Slavery. 
And  be  it  known  to  the  disgrace  of  our  country  that 
every  slaveholder,  who  is  the  keeper  of  a  number  of 
slaves  of  both  sexes,  is  also  the  keeper  of  a  house 
or  houses  of  ill-fame.  Licentious  white  men,  can 
and  do,  enter  at  night  or  day  the  lodging  places  of 
slaves  ;  break  up  the  bonds  of  affection  in  families  ; 
destroy  all  their  domestic  and  social  union  for  life ; 
and  the  laws  of  the  country  afford  them  no  protec- 
tion. "Will  any  man  count,  if  they  can  be  counted, 
the  churches  of  Maryland,  Kentucky,  and  Virginia, 
which  have  slaves  connected  with  them,  living  in  an 
open  state  of  adultery,  never  having  been  married 
according  to  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  yet  regular 
members  of  these  various  denominations,  but  more 
especially  the  Baptist  and  Methodist  churches  ?  And 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  39 

I  hazard  nothing  in  saying,  that  this  state  of  things 
exists  to  a  very  wide  extent  in  the  above  states. 

I  am  happy  to  state  that  many  fugitive  slaves, 
who  have  been  enabled  by  the  aid  of  an  over-ruling 
providence  to  escape  to  the  free  North  with  those 
whom  they  claim  as  their  wives,  notwithstanding  all 
their  ignorance  and  superstition,  are  not  at  all  dis- 
posed to  live  together  like  brutes,  as  they  have  been 
compelled  to  do  in  slaveholding  Churches.  But  as 
soon  as  they  get  free  from  slavery  they  go  before 
some  anti- slavery  clergyman,  and  have  the  solemn 
ceremony  of  marriage  performed  according  to  the 
laws  of  the  country.  And  if  they  profess  religion, 
and  have  been  baptized  by  a  slaveholding  minister, 
they  repudiate  it  after  becoming  free,  and  are  re- 
baptized  by  a  man  who  is  worthy  of  doing  it  accord- 
ing to  the  gospel  rule. 

The  nme  and  place  of  my  marriage,  I  consider 
one  of  the  most  trying  of  my  life.  I  was  opposed 
by  friends  and  foes  ;  my  mother  opposed  me  because 
she  thought  I  was  too  young,  and  marrying  she 
thought  would  involve  me  in  trouble  and  difficulty. 
My  mother-in-law  opposed  me,  because  she  wanted 
her  daughter  to  marry  a  slave  who  belonged  to  a 
very  rich  man  living  near  by,  and  who  was  well 
known  to  be  the  son  of  his  master.  She  thought 
no  doubt  that  his  master  or  father  might  chance  to 
set  him  free  before  he  died,  which  would  enable  him 
to  do  a  better  part  by  her  daughter  than  I  could  ! 
And  there  was  no  prospect  then  of  my  ever  being 
free.  But  his  master  has  neither  died  nor  yet  set 
his  son  free,    who  is  now  about  forty  years  of  age, 


40  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

toiling  under  the  lash,  waiting  and  hoping  that  hia 
master  may  die  and  will  him  to  be  free. 

The  young  men  were  opposed  to  our  marriage  for 
the  same  reason  that  Paddy  opposed  a  match  when 
the  clergyman  was  about  to  pronounce  the  marriage 
ceremony  of  a  young  couple.  He  said  "  if  tliere  be 
any  present  who  have  any  objections  to  this 
couple  being  joined  together  in  holy  wedlock,  let 
them  speak  now,  or  hold  their  peace  henceforth." 
At  this  time  Paddy  sprang  to  his  feet  and  said,  "Sir, 
I  object  to  this."  Every  eye  was  fixed  upon  him. 
"What  is  your  objection?"  said  the  clergyman. 
"Faith,"  replied  Paddy,  "Sir  I  want  her  myself." 

The  man  to  whom  I  belonged  was  opposed,  be- 
cause he  feared  my  taking  off  from  his  farm  some  of 
the  fruits  of  my  own  labor  for  Malinda  to  eat,  in 
the  shape  of  pigs,  chickens,  or  turkeys,  and  would 
count  it  not  robbery.  So  we  formed  a  resolution, 
that  if  we  were  prevented  from  joining  in  wedlock, 
that  we  would  run  away,  and  strike  for  Canada, 
let  the  consequences  be  what  they  might.  But  we 
had  one  consolation  ;  Malinda's  master  was  very 
much  in  favor  of  the  match,  but  entirely  upon  sel- 
fish principles.  When  I  went  to  ask  his  permission 
to  marry  Malinda,  his  answer  was  in  the  affirma- 
tive with  but  one  condition,  which  I  consider  to  be 
too  vulgar  to  be  written  in  this  book.  Our  mar- 
riage took  place  one  night  during  the  Christmas 
holydays;  at  which  time  we  had  quite  a  festival 
given  us.  All  appeared  to  be  wide  awake,  and  we 
had  quite  a  jolly  time  at  my  wedding  party.  And 
notwithstanding  our  marriage  was  without  license 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  41 

or  sanction  of  law,  we  believed  it  to  be  honorable 
before  God,  and  the  bed  undefiled.  Our  Christmas 
holydays  were  spent  in  matrimonial  visiting  among 
our  friends,  while  it  should  have  been  spent  in  run- 
ning away  to  Canada,  for  our  liberty.  But  freedom 
was  little  thought  of  by  us,  for  several  months  after 
marriage.  I  often  look,  back  to  that  period  even 
now  as  one  of  the  most  happy  seasons  of  my  life  ; 
notwithstanding  all  the  contaminating  and  heart- 
rending features  with  which  the  horrid  system  of 
slavery  is  marked,  and  must  carry  with  it  to  its 
final  grave,  yet  I  still  look  back  to  that  season  with 
sweet  remembrance  and  pleasure,  that  yet  hath 
power  to  charm  and  drive  back  dull  cares  which 
have  been  accumulated  by  a  thousand  painful  recol- 
lections of  slavery.  Malinda  was  to  me  an  affec- 
tionate wife.  She  vv^as  with  me  in  the  darkest  hours 
of  adversity.  She  was  with  me  in  sorrow,  and  joy, 
in  fasting  and  feasting,  in  trial  and  persecution,  in 
sickness  and  health,  in  sunshine  and  in  shade. 

Some  months  after  our  marriage,  the  unfeeling 
master  to  whom  I  belonged,  sold  his  farm  with  the 
view  of  moving  his  slaves  to  the  State  of  Missouri, 
regardless  of  the  separation  of  husbands  and  wives 
forever  ;  but  for  fear  of  my  resuming  my  old  prac- 
tice of  running  away,  if  he  should  have  forced  me 
to  leave  my  wife,  by  my  repeated  requests,  he  was 
constrained  to  sell  me  to  his  brother,  who  lived 
within  seven  miles  of  Wm.  Gate  wood,  who  then 
hold  JMalinda  as  his  property.  I  was  permitted  to 
visit  her  only  on  Saturday  nights,  after  my  work 
was  done,  and  I  had  to  be  at  home  before  sunrise  on 


42  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

Monday  mornings  or  take  a  flogging.  He  proved  to 
be  so  oppressive,  and  so  unreasonable  in  punishing 
his  victims,  that  I  soon  found  that  I  should  have  to 
run  away  in  self-defence.  But  he  soon  began  to 
take  the  hint,  and  sold  me  to  Win.  Gatewood  the 
owner  of  Malinda.  With  my  new  residence  I  con- 
fess that  I  was  much  dissatisfied.  Not  that  Gate- 
wood  was  a  more  cruel  master  than  my  former 
owner — not  that  I  was  opposed  to  living  with 
Malinda,  who  was  then  the  centre  and  object  of  my 
affections — but  to  live  where  I  must  be  eye  witness 
to  her  insults,  scourgings  and  abuses,  such  as  are 
common  to  be  inflicted  upon  slaves,  was  more  than 
I  could  bear.  If  my  wife  must  be  exposed  to  the 
insults  and  licentious  passions  of  wicked  slave- 
drivers  and  overseers  ;  if  she  must  bear  the  stripes 
of  the  lash  laid  on  by  an  unmerciful  tyrant ;  if  this 
is  to  be  done  with  impunity,  which  is  frequently 
done  by  slaveholders  and  their  abettors,  Heaven 
forbid  that  I  should  be  compelled  to  witness  the 
sight. 

Not  many  months  after  I  took  up  my  residence  on 
Wm.  Gate  wood's  plantation,  Malinda  made  me  a 
father.  The  dear  little  daughter  was  called  Mar)'- 
Frances.  She  was  nurtured  and  caressed  by  her 
mother  and  father,  until  she  was  large  enough  to 
creep  over  the  floor  after  her  parents,  and  clunb  up 
by  a  chair  before  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  leave  my 
family  and  go  into  a  foreign  country  for  a  season. 
Malinda's  business  was  to  labor  out  in  the  field  the 
greater  part  of  her  time,  and  there  was  no  one  to 
take  care  of  poor  little  Frances,  while  her  mother 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  43 

was  toiling  in  the  field.  She  was  left  at  the  house 
to  creep  under  the  feet  of  an  unmerciful  old  mistress, 
whom  I  have  known  to  slap  with  her  hand  the  face 
of  little  Frances,  for  crying  after  her  mother,  until 
her  little  face  was  left  black  and  blue.  I  recollect 
that  Malinda  and  myself  came  from  the  field  one 
summer's  day  at  noon,  and  poor  little  Frances  came 
creeping  to  her  mother  smiling,  but  with  large  tear 
drops  sta,nding  in  her  dear  little  eyes,  sobbing  and 
trying  to  tell  her  mother  that  she  had  been  abused, 
but  was  not  able  to  utter  a  word.  Her  little  face 
was  bruised  black  with  the  whole  print  of  Mrs. 
Gatewood's  hand.  This  print  was  plainly  to  be 
seen  for  eight  days  after  it  was  done.  But  oh  !  this 
darling  child  was  a  slave  ;  born  of  a  slave  mother. 
Who  can  imagine  what  could  be  the  feelings  of  a 
father  and  mother,  ^vhen  looking  upon  their  infant 
child  whipped  and  tortured  with  impunity,  and 
they  placed  in  a  situation  where  they  could  aff'ord  it 
no  protection.  But  we  were  all  claimed  and  held 
as  property  ;  the  father  and  mother  were  slaves  ! 
On  this  same  plantation  I  was  compelled  to  stand 
and  see  my  wife  shamefully  scourged  and  abused  by 
her  master  ;  and  the  manner  in  which  this  was  done, 
was  so  violently  and  inhumanly  committed  upon  the 
person  of  a  female,  that  I  despair  in  finding  decent 
language  to  describe  the  bloody  act  of  cruelty.  My 
happiness  or  pleasure  was  then  all  blasted ;  for  it 
was  sometimes  a  pleasure  to  be  with  my  little 
family  even  in  slavery.  I  loved  them  as  my  wife 
and  child.  Little  Frances  was  a  pretty  child  ;  she 
was   quiet,  playful,  bright,   and  interesting.       She 


44  NARRATIVE    OF    HENl^Y    BIBB. 

had  a  keen  black  eye,  and  tlie  very  image  of  her 
mother  was  stamped  upon  her  cheek  ;  but  I  could 
never  look  upon  the  dear  child  without  being  filled 
with  sorrow  and  fearful  apprehensions,  of  being 
separated  by  slaveholders,  because  she  was  a  slave, 
regarded  as  property.  And  unfortunately  for  me,  I 
am  the  father  of  a  slave,  a  word  too  obnoxious  to 
be  spoken  by  a  fugitive  slave.  It  calls  fresh  to  my 
mind  the  separation  of  husband  and  wife  ;  of  strip- 
ping, tying  up  and  flogging;  of  tearing  children 
from  their  parents,  and  selling  them  on  the  auction 
block.  It  calls  to  mind  female  virtue  trampled  un- 
der foot  with  impunity.  But  oh  !  when  I  remem- 
ber that  my  daughter,  my  only  child,  is  still  there, 
destined  to  share  the  fate  of  all  these  calamities,  it 
is  too  much  to  bear.  If  ever  there  was  any  one  act 
of  my  life  while  a  slave,  that  I  have  to  lament  over 
it  is  that  of  being  a  father  and  a  husband  of  slaves. 
I  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  I  am  only 
the  father  of  one  slave.  She  is  bone  of  my  bone, 
and  flesh  of  my  flesh  ;  poor  unfortunate  child.  She 
was  the  first  and  shall  be  the  last  slave  that  ever  I 
will  father,  for  chains  and  slavery  on  this  earth. 


n^ 


Can  a  mother  forget  her  suckling  child  f 


The  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  arc  cruel. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


My  first  adventure  for  liberty. — Parting  Scene. — Journey  up  the 
river. — Safe  arrival  in  Cincinnati. — Journey  to  Canada. — Suf- 
fering from  cold  and  hunger. — Denied  food  and  shelter  by 
some. — One  noble  exception. — Subsequent  success. — Arrival 
at  Perrysburgh. — I  obtained  employment  through  the  winter. 
— My  return  to  Kentucky  to  get  my  family. 

In  the  fall  or  winter  of  1837  I  formed  a  resolution 
that  I  would  escape,  if  possible,  to  Canada,  for  my 
Liberty.  I  commenced  from  that  hour  making  pre- 
parations for  the  dangerous  experiment  of  breaking 
the  chains  that  bound  me  as  a  slave.  My  prepara- 
tion for  this  voyage  consisted  in  the  accumulation 
of  a  little  money,  perhaps  not  exceeding  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents,  and  a  suit  which  I  had  never  been 
seen  or  known  to  wear  before  ;  this  last  was  to 
avoid  detection. 

On  the  twenty- fifth  of  December,  1837,  my  long 
anticipated  time  had  arrived  when  I  was  to  put  into 
operation  my  former  resolution,  which  was  to  bolt 
for  Liberty  or  consent  to  die  a  Slave.  I  acted  upon 
the  former,  although  I  confess  it  to  be  one  of  the 
most  self-denying  acts  of  my  whole  life,  to  take 
leave  of  an  affectionate  wife,  who  stood  before  me 
on  my  departure,  with  dear  little  Frances  in  he) 
arms,  and  with  tear«  of  sorrow  in  her  eyes  as  she 
bid  me  a  long  farewell.  It  required  all  the  moral 
courage  that  I  was  master  of  to  suppress  my  feel- 
ings while  taking  leave  of  my  little  family. 


NARKATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  47 

Plad  Malinda  known  my  intention  at  that  time, 
it  would  not  have  been  possible  for  me  to  have  got 
away,  and  I  might  have  this  day  been  a  slave.  Not- 
withstanding every  inducement  was  held  out  to  me 
to  run  away  if  I  would  be  free,  and  the  voice  of 
liberty  was  thundering  in  my  very  soul,  "  Be  free 
oh,  man  !  be  free,"  I  was  struggling  against  a  thou- 
sand obstacles  which  had  clustered  around  my  mind 
to  bind  my  wounded  spirit  still  in  the  dark  prison 
of  mental  degradation.  My  strong  attachments  to 
friends  and  relatives,  with  all  the  love  of  home  and 
birth-place  which  is  so  natural  among  the  human 
family,  twined  about  my  heart  and  were  hard  to 
break  away  from.  And  withal,  the  fear  of  being 
pursued  with  guns  and  blood-hounds,  and  of  being 
killed,  or  captured  and  taken  to  the  extreme  South, 
to  linger  out  my  days  in  hopeless  bondage  on  some 
cotton  or  sugar  plantation,  all  combined  to  deter  me. 
But  I  had  counted  the  cost,  and  was  fully  prepared 
to  make  the  sacrifice.  The  time  for  fulfilling  my 
pledge  was  then  at  hand.  I  must  foi'sake  friends 
and  neighbors,  wife  and  child,  or  consent  to  live  and 
die  a  slave. 

By  the  permission  of  my  keeper,  I  started  out  to 
work  for  myself  on  Christmas.  I  went  to  the  Ohio 
River,  which  was  but  a  short  distance  from  Bedford. 
My  excuse  for  wanting  to  go  there  was  to  get  work. 
High  wages  were  offered  for  hands  to  work  in  a 
slaughter-house.  But  in  place  of  my  going  to  work 
there,  according  to  promise,  when  I  arrived  at  the 
river  I  managed  to  find  a  conveyance  to  cross  over 
into  a  free  state.     I  was  la^nded  in  the  village  of 


48  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

Madison,  Indiana,  where  steamboats  were  landing 
every  day  and  night,  passing  up  and  down  the  river, 
which  afforded  me  a  good  opportunity  of  getting  a 
boat  passage  to  Cincinnati.  My  anticipation  being 
worked  up  to  the  highest  pitch,  no  sooner  was  the 
curtain  of  night  dropped  over  the  village,  than 
I  secreted  myself  where  no  one  could  see  me,  and 
changed  my  suit  ready  for  the  passage.  Soon  I 
heard  the  welcome  sound  of  a  Steamboat  coming  up 
the  river  Oliio,  which  was  sooji  to  waft  me  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  human  slave  markets  of  Kentucky. 
When  the  boat  had  landed  at  Madison,  notwithstand- 
ing my  strong  desire  to  get  off,  my  heart  trembled 
within  me  in  view  of  the  great  danger  to  which  I 
was  exposed  in  taking  passage  on  board  of  a  Soutli- 
ern  Steamboat ;  hence  before  I  took  passage,  I 
kneeled  down  before  the  Great  I  Am,  and  prayed 
for  his  aid  and  protection,  which  He  bountifully  be- 
stowed even  beyond  my  expectation ;  for  I  felt  my- 
self to  be  unworthy.  I  then  stept  boldly  on  the 
deck  of  this  splendid  swift-running  Steamer,  bound 
for  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  This  being  the  first 
voyage  that  I  had  ever  taken  on  board  of  a  Steam- 
boat, I  was  filled  with  fear  and  excitement,  know- 
ing that  I  was  surrounded  by  the  vilest  enemies  of 
God  and  man,  liable  to  be  seized  and  bound  hand 
and  foot,  by  any  white  man,  and  taken  back  into 
captivity.  But  I  crowded  myself  back  from  the 
light  among  the  deck  passengers,  where  it  would  be 
difficult  to  distinguish  me  from  a  white  man.  Every 
time  durirg  the  night  that  the  mate  came  round 
with  a  light  after  the  hands,  I  was  afraid  he  would 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  49 

see  I  was  a  colored  man,  and  take  me  up  ;  hence  I 
kept  from  the  light  as  much  as  possible.  Some 
men  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their 
deeds  are  evil ;  but  this  was  not  the  case  with  my- 
self; it  was  to  avoid  detection  in  doing  right. 
This  was  one  of  the  instances  of  my  adventures  that 
my  affinity  with  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  and  even 
slaveholders,  worked  well  for  my  escape.  But  no 
thanks  to  them  for  it.  "While  in  their  midst  they 
have  not  only  robbed  me  of  my  labor  and  liberty, 
but  they  have  almost  entirely  robbed  me  of  my  dark 
complexion.  Being  so  near  the  color  of  a  slave- 
holder, they  could  not,  or  did  not  find  me  out  that 
night  among  the  white  passengers.  There  was  one 
of  the  deck  hands  on  board  called  out  on  his  watch, 
whose  hammock  was  swinging  up  near  by  me.  I 
asked  him  if  he  would  let  me  lie  in  it.  He  said  if 
I  would  pay  him  twenty- five  cents  that  I  might  lie 
Ih  it  until  day.  I  readily  paid  him  the  price  and 
got  into  the  hammock.  No  one  could  see  my  face 
to  know  whether  I  v/as  white  or  colored,  while  I 
was  in  the  hammock  ;  but  I  never  closed  my  eyes 
for  sleep  that  night.  I  had  often  heard  of  explo- 
sions on  board  of  Steamboats ;  and  every  time  the 
boat  landed,  and  blowed  off  steam,  I  v/as  afraid  the 
boilers  had  bursted  and  we  should  all  be  killed  ;  but 
I  lived  through  the  night  amid  the  many  dangers  to 
which  I  was  exposed.  I  still  maintained  my  posi- 
tion in  the  hammock,  until  the  next  morning  about 
8  o'clock,  when  I  heard  the  passengers  saying  the 
boat  was  near  Cincinnati ;  and  by  this  time  I  sup- 
posed that  the  attention  of  the  people  would  be 
B 


50  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

turned  to  the  city,  and  I  might  pass  off  unnoticed^ 

There  were  no  questions  asked  me  while  on  board 
the  boat.  The  boat  landed  about  9  o'clock  in  the 
morning  in  Cincinnati,  and  I  waited  until  after 
most  of  the  passengers  had  gone  off  of  the  boat ;  I 
then  walked  as  gracefully  up  street  as  if  I  was  not 
running  away,  until  I  had  got  pretty  well  up  Broad- 
way. My  object  was  to  go  to  Canada,  but  having 
no  knowledge  of  the  road,  it  was  necessary  for  me 
to  make  some  inquiry  before  I  left  the  city.  I  was 
afraid  to  ask  a  white  person,  and  I  could  see  no 
colored  person  to  ask.  But  fortunately  for  me  I 
found  a  company  of  little  boys  at  play  in  the  street, 
and  through  these  little  boys,  hy  asking  them  indi- 
rect questions,  I  found  the  residence  of  a  colored  man. 

"  Boys,  can  you  tell  me  where  that  old  colored 
man  lives  who  saws  wood,  and  works  at  jobs  around 
the  streets  ?" 

"  What  is  his  name  ?"  said  one  of  the  boys, 

"I  forget." 

"  Is  it  old  Job  Dundy  ?" 

"  Is  Dundy  a  colored  man  ?'* 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  That  is  the  very  man  I  am  looking  for ;  will 
you  show  me  where  he  lives  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  little  boy,  and  pointed  me  out 
the  house. 

Mr.  D.  invited  me  in,  and  I  found  him  to  be  a  true 
friend.  He  asked  me  if  I  was  a  slave  from  Kentucky', 
and  if  I  ever  intended  to  go  back  into  slavery  ?  Not 
knowing  yet  whether  he  was  truly  in  faror  of  slaves 
running  away,  I  told  him  that  I  had  just  come  over  to 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  51 

'Spend  my  Christmas  holydays,  and  that  I  was  going 
back.  His  reply  was,  "  my  son,  I  would  never  go 
back  if  I  was  in  your  place ;  you  have  a  right  to 
your  liberty."  I  then  asked  him  how  I  should  get 
my  freedom  ?  He  referred  me  to  Cairada,  over 
which  waved  freedom's  flag,  defended  by  the  British 
Government,  upon  whose  soil  there  cannot  be  the 
foot  print  of  a  slave. 

He  then  commenced  telling  me  of  the  facilities 
for  my  escape  to  Canada ;  of  the  Abolitionists  ;  of 
the  Abolition  Societies,  and  of  their  fidelity  to  the 
cause  of  suffering  humanity.  This  was  the  first 
time  in  my  life  that  ever  I  had  heard  of  such  people 
being  in  existence  as  the  Abolitionists.  I  supposed 
that  they  were  a  different  race  of  people.  He  con- 
ducted me  to  the  house  of  one  of  these  warm-hearted 
friends  of  God  and  the  slave.  I  found  him  willing 
to  aid  a  poor  fugitive  on  his  way  to  Canada,  even 
to  the  dividing  of  the  last  cent,  or  morsel  of  bread 
if  necessary. 

These  kind  friends  gave  me  something  to  eat,  and 
started  me  on  my  way  to  Canada,  with  a  recom- 
mendation to  a  friend  on  my  way.  This  was  the 
commencement  of  what  was  called  the  under  ground 
rail  road  to  Canada.  I  walked  with  bold  courage, 
trusting  in  the  arm  of  Omnipotence  ;  guided  by  the 
unchangable  North  Star  by  night,  and  inspired  by 
an  elevated  thought  that  I  was  fleeing  from  a  land 
of  slavery  and  oppression,  bidding  farewell  to  hand- 
cuffs, whips,  thumb-screws  and  chains. 

I  travelled  on  until  I  had  arrived  at  the  place 


52  NARRATIVE    OF    KENRY    BIBB. 

where  I  was  directed  to  call  on  an  Abolitionist,  but 
I  made  no  stop  :  so  great  were  my  fears  of  being 
pursued  by  the  pro- slavery  hunting  dogs  of  the 
South.  I  prosecuted  my  journey  vigorously  for 
nearly  forty-eight  hours  without  food  or  rest,  strug- 
gling against  external  difficulties  such  as  no  one  can 
imagine  who  has  never  experienced  the  same :  not 
knowing  what  moment  I  might  be  captured  while 
travelling  among  strangers,  through  cold  and  fear, 
breasting  the  north  winds,  being  thinly  clad,  pelted 
by  the  snow  storms  through  "the  dark  hours  of  the 
night,  and  not  a  house  in  which  I  could  enter  to 
shelter  me  from  the  storm. 

The  second  night  from  Cincinnati,  about  midnight, 
I  thought  that  I  should  freeze  ;  my  shoes  were  worn 
through,  and  my  feet  were  exposed  to  the  bare 
ground.  I  approached  a  house  on  the  road-side, 
knocked  at  the  door,  and  asked  admission  to  their 
fire,  but  was  refused.  I  went  to  the  next  house, 
and  was  refused  the  privilege  of  their  fire- side,  to 
prevent  my  freezing.  This  I  thought  was  hard 
treatment  among  the  human  family.     But — 

"  Behind  a  frowning  Providence  tliere  was  a  smiling  face," 
which  soon  shed  beams  of  light  upon  unworthy  me. 

The  next  morning  I  was  still  found  struggling  on 
my  way,  faint,  hungry,  lame,  and  rest-broken.  I 
could  see  people  taking  breakfast  from  the  road- 
side, but  I  did  not  dare  to  enter  their  houses  to  get 
my  breakfast,  for  neither  love  nor  money.  In  pass- 
ing a  low  cottage,  I  saw  the  breakfast  table  spread 
with  all  its  bounties,  and  I  could  see  no  male  person 


■\v-'~  5::?;^^<.>'- 


54  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

about  the  house  ;  the  temptation  for  food  was  great- 
er than  I  could  resist. 

I  saw  a  lady  about  the  table,  and  I  thought  that 
if  she  was  ever  so  much  disposed  to  take  me  up, 
that  she  would  have  to  catch  and  h5ld  me,  and  that 
would  have  been  impossible.  I  stepped  up  to  the 
door  with  my  hat  off,  and  asked  her  if  she  would 
be  good  enough  to  sell  me  a  sixpence  worth  of  bread 
and  meat.  She  cut  off  a  piece  and  brought  it  to 
me ;  I  thanked  her  for  it,  and  handed  he?  the  pay, 
but  instead  of  receiving  it,  she  burst  into  tears, 
and  said  "never  mind  the  money,"  but  gently  turn- 
ed away  bidding  me  go  on  my  journey.  This  was 
altogether  unexpected  to  me  :  I  had  found  a  friend 
in  the  time  of  need  among  strangers,  and  nothing 
could  be  more  cheering  in  the  day  of  trouble  than 
this.  When  I  left  that  place  I  started  with  boldei 
courage.  The  next  night  I  put  up  at  a  tavern,  and 
continued  stopping  at  public  houses  until  my  means 
were  about  gone.  When  I  got  to  the  Black  Swamp 
in  the  county  of  Wood,  Ohio,  I  stopped  one  night 
at  a  hotel,  after  travelling  all  day  through  mud  and 
snow ;  but  I  soon  found  that  I  should  not  be  able  to 
pay  my  bill.  This  was  about  the  time  that  the 
*'  wild- cat  banks"  w^ere  in  a  nourishing  state,  and 
*'  shin  plasters"*  in  abundance  ;  they  would  charge 
a  dollar  for  one  night's  lodging. 

After  I  had  found  out  this,  I  slipped  out  of  the 
bar  room  into  the  kitchen  where  the  landlady  was 
getting  supper  ;  as    she  had  quite  a  number  of  trav- 


*  Nickuamc  for  temporary  paper  money. 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBE.  55 

ellers  to  cook  for  that  night,  I  told  her  if  she  would 
accept  my  services,  I  would  assist  her  in  getting 
supper ;  that  I  was  a  cook.  She  very  readily  ac- 
cepted the  oflFer,  and  I  went  to  work. 

She  was  very  much  pleased  with  my  work,  and 
the  next  morning  I  helped  her  to  get  breakfast.  She 
then  wanted  to  hire  me  for  all  winter,  but  I  refused 
for  fear  I  might  be  pursued.  My  excuse  to  her  was 
that  I  had  a  brother  living  in  Detroit,  whom  I  was 
going  to  see  on  some  important  business,  and  after 
I  got  that  business  attended  to,  I  would  come  back 
and  work  for  them  all  winter. 

Wheji  I  started  the  second  morning  they  paid  me 
fifty  cents  beside  my  board,  with  the  understanding 
that  I  was  to  return  ;  but  I  have  not  gone  back  yet. 

I  arrived  the  next  morning  in  the  village  of  Per- 
rysburgh,  where  I  found  quite  a  settlement  of  color- 
ed people,  many  of  whom  were  fugitive  slaves.  I 
made  my  case  known  to  them  and  they  sympathized 
with  me.  I  was  a  stranger,  and  they  took  me  in 
and  persuaded  me  to  spend  the  winter  in  Perrys- 
bufgh,  where  I  could  get  employment  and  go  to  Can- 
ada the  next  spring,  in  a  steamboat  which  run  from 
Perry sburgh,  if  I  thought  it  proper  so  to  do. 

I  got  a  job  of  chopping  wood  during  that  winter 
which  enabled  me  to  purchase  myself  a  suit,  and  af- 
ter paying  my  board  the  next  spring,  I  had  saved 
fifteen  dollars  in  cash.  My  intention  was  to  go  back 
to  Kentucky  after  my  wife. 

When  I  got  ready  to  start,  which  was  about 
the  first  of  May,  my  friends  all  persuaded  me  not 
to    go,    but    to     get    some    other    person    to    go, 


56  NARRATIVE    OP    HENRY    BIBB. 

for  fear  I  might  b*e  caught  and  sold  off  from  my 
family  into  slavery  forever.  But  I  could  not  re- 
frain from  going  back  myself,  believing  that  I  could 
accomplish  it  better  than  a  stranger. 

The  money  that  I  had  would  not  pass  in  the 
South,  and  for  the  purpose  of  getting  it  off  to  a  good 
advantage,  I  took  a  steamboat  passage  to  Detroit, 
Michigan,  and  there  I  spent  all  my  money  for  dry 
goods,  to  peddle  out  on  my  way  back  through  the 
State  of  Ohio.  I  also  purchased  myself  a  pair  of 
false  whiskers  to  put  on  when  I  got  back  to  Ken- 
tucky, to  prevent  any  one  from  knowing  me  after 
night,  should  they  see  me.  I  then  started  back  after 
my  little  family. 


CHAPTER   V 


My  safe  arrival  at  Kentucky. — Surprise  and  deliglit  to  find  my 
family. — Plan  for  their  escape  projected. — Return  to  Cincin- 
nati.— My  betrayal  by  traitors. — Imprisonment  in  Covington, 
Kentucky. — Pteturn  to  slavery. — Infamous  proposal  of  the 
slave  catchers. — My  reply. 

I  succeeded  very  well  in  selling  out  my  goods, 
and  when  I  arrived  in  Cincinnati,  I  called  on  some 
of  my  friends  who  had  aided  me  on  my  first  escape. 
They  also  opposed  me  in  going  back  only  for  my 
own  good.  But  it  has  ever  been  characteristic  of 
me  to  persevere  in  what  I  undertake. 

I  took  a  Steamboat  passage  which  would  bring 
me  to  where  I  should  v/ant  to  land  about  dark,  so 
as  to  give  me  a  chance  to  find  my  family  during  the 
night  if  possible.  The  boat  landed  me  at  the  proper 
place,  and  at  the  proper  time  accordingly.  This 
landing  was  about  six  miles  from  Bedford,  where  my 
mother  and  wife  lived,  but  with  different  families. 
My  mother  was  the  cook  at  a  tavern,  in  Bedford. 
When  I  approached  the  house  where  mother  was 
living,  I  remembered  where  she  slept  in  the  kitchen  , 
her  bed  was  near  the  windov/. 

It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  in  looking 
through  the  kitchen  window,  I  saw  a  person  lying 
in  bed  about  where  my  mother  had  formerly  slept. 
I  rapped  on  the  glass  which  awakened  the  person, 


58  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

ill  whom  I  recognised  my  dear  mother,  but  she 
knew  me  not,  as  I  was  dressed  in  disguise  with  my 
false  whiskers  on ;  but  she  came  to  the  window  and 
asked  who  I  was  and  what  I  wanted.  But  when  I 
took  off  my  false  whiskers,  and  spoke  to  her,  she 
knew  my  voice,  and  quickly  sprang  to  the  door, 
clasping  my  hand,  exclaiming,  "  Oh !  is  this  my 
son,"  drawing  me  into  the  room,  where  I  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  find  Malinda,  and  little  Frances,  my 
wife  and  child,  whom  I  had  left  to  find  the  fair 
climes  of  liberty,  and  whom  I  was  then  seeking  to 
rescue  from  perpetual  slavery. 

They  never  expected  to  see  me  again  in  this  life. 
I  am  entirely  unable  to  describe  what  my  feelings 
were  at  that  time.  It  was  almost  like  the  return 
of  the  prodigal  son.  There  was  weeping  and  re- 
joicing. They  were  filled  with  surprise  and  fear; 
with  sadness  and  joy.  The  sensation  of  joy  at 
that  moment  flashed  like  lightning  over  my  afflicted 
mind,  mingl(!5d  with  a  thousand  dreadful  apprehen- 
sions, that  none  but  a  heart  wounded  slave  father 
and  husband  like  myself  can  possibly  imagine. 
After  talking  the  matter  over,  we  decided  it  was 
not  best  to  start  with  my  family  that  night,  as  it 
was  very  uncertain  whether  we  should  get  a  boat 
passage  immediately.  And  in  case  of  failure,  if 
Malinda  should  get  back  even  before  daylight  the 
next  morning,  it  would  have  excited  suspicion 
against  her,  as  it  was  not  customary  for  slaves  to 
leave  home  at  that  stage  of  the  week  without  per- 
mission. Hence  we  thought  it  would  be  the  most 
effectual  w^ay  for  her  to  escape,  to  start  on  Saturday 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  59 

night;  this  being  a  night  on  which  the  slaves  of 
Kentucky  are  permitted  to  visit  around  among  their 
friends,  and  are  often  allowed  to  stay  until  the  after- 
noon on  Sabbath  day. 

I  gave  Malinda  money  to  pay  her  passage  on 
board  of  a  Steamboat  to  Cincinnati,  as  it  was  not 
safe  for  me  to  wait  for  her  until  Saturday  night ; 
but  she  was  to  meet  me  in  Cincinnati,  if  possible, 
the  next  Sunday.  Her  father  was  to  go  with  her  to 
the  Ohio  River  on  l$£itjni\^la^  nught^  and  if  a  boat 
passed  up  during  the  lii^lit  she  was  to  get  on  board 
at  Madison,  and  come  to  Cincinnati.  If  she  should 
fail  in  getting  oif  that  night,  she  was  to  try  it  the 
next  Saturday  ni^hc.  Thit  'wae  the  ^understanding 
when  we  separatcfV,  This  we  tho,?ight  was  the  best 
plan  for  her  escape,  as  there\  hA,d  been  so  much  ex- 
citement  caused  by  my  running  avray. 

The  owners  of  my  v/fTe  were  very  much  afraid  that 
she  would  follow  me  ;  and  to  preveiit  her  they  had 
told  her  and  other  slaves  that  I  had  been  persuaded 
off  by  the  Abolitionists,  who  had  promised  to  set 
me  free,  but  had  sold  me  off  to  New  Orleans.  They 
told  the  slaves  to  beware  of  the  abolitionists,  that 
their  object  was  to  decoy  off  slaves  and  then  sell 
them  off  in  New  Orleans.  Some  of  them  believed 
this,  and  others  believed  it  not ;  and  the  owners  of 
my  wife  were  more  watchful  over  her  than  they 
had  ever  been  before  as  she  v/as  unbelieving. 

This  was  in  the  month  of  June,  1838.  I  ^eft 
Malinda  on  a  bright  but  lonesome  Wednesday  night. 
\Vhen  I  arrived  at  the   river   Ohio,  I  found  a  small 


60  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

craft  chained  to  a  tree,  in  which  I  ferried  myself 
across  the  stream. 

I  succeeded  in  getting  a  Steamboat  passage  hack 
to  Cincinnati,  where  I  put  up  with  one  of  my 
abolition  friends  who  knew  that  I  had  gone  after 
my  family,  and  who  appeared  to  be  much  surprised 
to  see  me  again.  I  was  soon  visited  by  several 
friends  who  knew  of  my  having  gone  back  after  my 
family.  They  wished  to  know  why  I  had  not 
brought  my  j^amilj"  ^it|i^  m^  ;  but  after  they  under- 
stood the  plan,  and  that  my  ifajnily  was  expected  to 
be  in  Cincinnati  within  a  few  days,  they  thought  it 
the  best  and,  safest  plan  for  uSto  take  a  stage  pas- 
sage out  to'Lcvke/Er^G.  ,  But  being  short  of  money, 
I  was  not  able  to  pay  liiy  pfissage  in  the  stage,  even 
if  it  would  have  prevented  me  from  being  caught 
by  the  slave  hunters  of  Cincinnati,  or  save  me  from 
being  taken  back  into  bonda^'e  for  life. 

These  friends  proposed  helping  me  by  subscrip- 
tion ;  I  acceded  their  kind  offer,  but  in  going  amonj, 
friends  to  solicit  aid  for  me,  they  happened  to  get 
among  traitors,  and  kidnappers,  both  white  and 
colored  men,  who  made  their  living  by  that  kind  of 
business.  Several  persons  called  on  me  and  made 
me  small  donations,  and  among  them  two  white  men 
came  in  professing  to  be  my  friends.  They  told  me 
not  to  be  afraid  of  them,  they  were  abolitionists. 
They  asked  me  a  great  many  questions.  They 
wanted  to  know  if  I  needed  any  help  ?  and  they 
wanted  to  know  if  it  could  be  possible  that  a  man 
so  near  white  as  myself  could  be  a  slave  ?  Could 
it  be  possible  that  men  would  make  slaves  of  their 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  61 

own  cliildren  ?  They  expressed  great  sympathy  for 
me,  and  gave  me  fifty  cents  each ;  by  this  they 
gained  my  confidence.  They  asked  my  master's 
name  ;  where  he  lived,  &;c.  After  which  they  left 
the  room,  bidding  me  God  speed.  These  traitors, 
or  land  pirates,  took  passage  on  board  of  the  first 
Steamboat  down  the  river,  in  search  of  my  owners. 
When  they  found  them,  they  got  a  reward  of  three 
hundred  dollars  offered  for  the  re-capture  of  this 
"  stray"  which  they  had  so  long  and  faithfully  been 
hunting,  by  day  and  by  night,  by  land  and  by  water 
with  dogs  and  with  guns,  but  all  without  success. 
This  being  the  last  and  only  chance  for  dragging  me 
back  into  hopeless  bondage,  time  and  money  was 
no  object  when  they  saw  a  prospect  of  my  being  re- 
taken. 

Mr.  Gatewood  got  two  of  his  slaveholding  neigh- 
bors to  go  with  him  to  Cincinnati,  for  the  purpose 
of  swearing  to  anything  which  might  be  necessary 
to  change  me  back  into  property.  They  came  on 
to  Cincinnati,  and  with  but  little  effort  they  soon 
rallied  a  mob  of  ruffians  who  Avere  willing  to  become 
the  watch-dogs  of  slaveholders,  for  a  dram,  in  con- 
nection with  a  few  slavehunting  petty  constables. 

While  I  was  waiting  the  arrival  of  my  family,  I 
got  a  job  of  diggfDg  a  cellar  for  the  good  lady  where 
I  was  stopping,  and  while  I  was  digging  under  the 
house,  all  at  once  I  heard  a  man  enter  the  house ; 
another  stept  up  to  the  cellar  door  to  where  I  was 
at  work  ;  he  looked  in  and  saw  me  with  my  coat  off 
at  work.  He  then  rapped  over  the  cellar  door  on 
the  house  side,  to  notify  the   one  who  had  entered 


62  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

the  liouso  to  look  for  me  that  I  was  in  the  cellar. 
This  strange  conduct  soon  excited  suspicion  so 
strong  in  me,  that  I  could  not  stay  in  the  cellar  and 
started  to  come  out,  but  the  man  who  stood  by  the 
door,  rapped  again  on  the  house  side,  for  the  other 
to  come  to  his  aid,  p„ndtoldme  to  stop.  I  attempted 
to  pass  out  by  him,  and  he  caught  hold  of  me,  and 
drew  a  pistol,  swearing  if  I  did  not  stop  he  would 
shoot  me  down.  By  this  time  I  knew  that  I  was 
betrayed. 

I  asked  him  what  crime  I  had  committed  that  I 
should  be  murdered. 

"  I  will  let  you  know,  very  soon,"  said  he. 

By  this  time  there  were  others  coming  to  his  aid, 
and  I  could  see  no  way  by  which  I  could  possibly 
escape  the  jaws  of  that  hell  upon  earth. 

All  my  flattering  prospects  of  enjoying  my  own 
fire-side,  with  my  little  family,  w6re  then  blasted 
and  gone ;  and  I  must  bid  farewell  to  friends  and 
freedom  forever. 

In  vain  did  I  look  to  the  infamous  laws  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Ohio,  for  that  protection  against 
violence  and  outrage,  that  even  the  vilest  criminal 
with  a  white  skin  migM  enjoy.  But  oh  !  the  dread- 
ful thought,  that  after  all  my  sacrifice  and  strug- 
gling to  rescue  my  family  from  the*hands  of  the  op- 
pressor ;  that  I  should  be  dragged  back  into  cruel 
bondage  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  a  tyrant's  law,  to 
endure  stripes  and  imprisonment,  and  to  be  shut  out 
from  all  moral  as  well  as  intellectual  improvement, 
and  linger  out  almost  a  living  death. 


Squire's  ojjice. 


C* 


64  NARRATIVE    OP   HENRY    BIBB. 

When  I  saw  a  crowd  of  blood-thirsty,  unprincipled 
slave  hunters  rushing  upon  me  armed  with  weapons 
of  death,  it  was  no  use  for  me  to  undertake  to  fight 
my  way  through  against  such  fearful  odds. 

But  I  broke  away  from  the  man  who  stood  by 
with  his  pistol  drawn  to  shoot  me  if  I  should  resist, 
and  reached  the  fence  and  attempted  to  jump  over  it 
before  I  was  overtaken ;  but  the  fence  being  very 
high  I  was  caught  by  my  legs  before  I  got  over. 

I  kicked  and  struggled  with  all  my  might  to  get 
away,  but  without  success.  I  kicked  a  new  cloth 
coat  off  of  his  back,  while  he  was  holding  on  to  my 
leg.  I  kicked  another  in  his  eye ;  but  they  never 
let  me  go  until  they  got  more  help.  By  this  time, 
there  was  a  crowd  on  the  out  side  of  the  fence  with 
clubs  to  beat  me  back.  Finally,  they  succeeded 
in  dragging  me  from  the  fence  and  overpowered  me 
by  numbers  and  choked  me  almost  to  death.  '*' 

These  ruffians  dragged  me  through  the  streets  of 
Cincinnati,  to  what  was  called  a  justice  office.  But 
it  was  more  like  an  office  of  injustice. 

When  I  entered  the  room  I  was  introduced  to 
three  slaveholders,  one  of  whom  was  a  son  of  Wm. 
Gatewood,  who  claimed  me  as  his  property.  They 
pretended  to  be  very  glad  to  see  me. 

They  asked  me  if  I  did  not  want  to  see  my  wife 
and  child;  but  I  made  no  reply  to  any  thing  that 
was  said  until  I  was  delivered  up  as  a  slave.  After 
they  were  asked  a  few  questions  by  the  court,  the 
old  pro- slavery  squire  very  gravely  pronounced  me 
to  be  the  property  of  Mr.  Gatewood. 

The  office  being  crowded  with  spectators,  many 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  65 

of  whom  were  colored  persons,  Mr.  G.  was  afraid  to 
keep  me  in  Cincinnati,  two  or  three  hours  even,  un- 
til a  steamboat  got  ready  to  leave  for  the  South. 
So  they  took  me  across  the  rivei*,  and  locked  me  up 
in  Covington  jail,  for  safe  keeping.  This  was  the 
first  time  in  my  life  that  I  had  been  put  into  a  jail. 
It  was  truly  distressing  to  my  feelings  to  be  locked 
up  in  a  cold  dungeon  for  no  crime.  The  jailor  not 
being  at  home,  his  wife  had  to  act  in  his  place. 
After  my  owners  had  gone  back  to  Cincinnati,  the 
jailor's  wife,  in  company  with  another  female,  came 
into  the  jail  and  talked  with  me  very  friendly. 

I  told  them  all  about  my  situation,  and  these 
ladies  said  they  hoped  that  I  might  get  away  ag^in, 
and  went  so  far  as  to  tell  me  if  I  should  be  kept  in 
the  jail  that  night,  there  was  a  hole  under  the  wall 
of  the  jail  where  a  prisoner  had  got  out.  It  was 
only  filled  up  with  loose  dirt,  they  said,  and  I  might 
scratch  it  out  and  clear  myself. 

This  I  thought  was  a  kind  word  from  an  unex- 
pected friend  :  I  had  power  to  have  taken  the  key 
from  those  ladies,  in  spite  of  them,  and  have  cleared 
myself;  but  knowing  that  they  would  have  to  suffer 
perhaps  for  letting  me  get  away,  I  thought  I  would 
wait  until  after  dark,  at  which  time  I  should  try  to 
make  my  escape,  if  they  should  not  take  me  out  be- 
fore that  time.  But  within  two  or  three  hours,  they 
came  after  me,  and  conducted  me  on  board  of  a  boat, 
on  which  we  all  took  passage  down  to  Louisville. 
I  was  not  confined  in  any  way,  but  was  well  guard- 
ed by  five  men,  three  of  whom  were  slaveholders, 


66  NARRATIVE    OP   HENRY    BIBB. 

and  the  two  young  men  from  Cincinnati,  who  had 
betrayed  me. 

After  the  boat  had  got  fairly  under  way,  with  these 
vile  men  standing  around  me  on  the  upper  deck  of 
the  boat,  and  she  under  full  speed  carrying  me  back 
into  a  land  of  torment,  I  could  see  no  possible 
way  of  escape.  Yet,  while  I  was  permitted  to  gaze 
on  the  beauties  of  nature,  on  free  soil,  as  I  passed 
down  the  river,  things  looked  to  me  uncommonly 
pleasant :  The  green  trees  and  wild  flowers  of  the 
forest ;  the  ripening  harvest  fields  waving  with  the 
gentle  breezes  of  Heaven ;  and  the  honest  farmers 
tilling  their  soil  and  living  by  their  own  toil.  These 
things  seem  to  light  upon  my  vision  with  a  peculiar 
charm.  I  was  conscious  of  what  must  be  my  late  ; 
a  wretched  victim  for  Slavery  without  limit ;  to  be 
sold  like  an  ox,  into  hopeless  bondage,  and  to  be 
worked  under  the  liesh  devouring  lash  during  life, 
vrithout  wages. 

This  was  to  me  an  awful  thought ;  every  time  the 
boat  run  near  the  shore,  I  was  tempted  to  leap  from 
the  deck  down  into  the  water,  with  a  hope  of  mak- 
ing my  escape.     Such  was  then  my  feeling. 

But  on  a  moment's  reflection,  reason  with  her 
warning  voice  overcame  this  passion  by  pointing 
out  the  dreadful  consequences  of  one's  committing 
suicide.  And  this  I  thought  would  have  a  very 
striking  resemblance  to  the  act,  and  I  declined  putting 
into  practice  this  dangerous  experiment,  though  the 
temptation  was  great. 

These  kidnapping  gentlemen,  seeing  that  I  was 
much  dissatisfied,  commenced  talking  to  me,  by  say- 


NARRATIVE    OP    HENRY    BIBB.  67 

ing  that  I  must  not  be  cast  down ;  they  were  going 
to  take  me  back  home  to  live  with  my  family,  if  I 
would  promise  not  to  run  away  again. 

To  this  I  agreed,  and  told  them  that  this  was  all 
that  I  could  ask,  and  more  than  I  had  expected. 

But  they  were  not  satisfied  with  having  recap- 
tured me,  because  they  had  lost  other  slaves  and 
supposed  that  I  knew  their  whereabouts  ;  and  truly  I 
did.  They  wanted  me  to  tell  them ;  but  before 
telling  I  wanted  them  to  tell  who  it  was  that  had 
betrayed  me  into  their  hands.  They  said  that  I  was 
betrayed  by  two  colored  men  in  Cincinnati,  whose 
names  they  were  backward  in  telling,  because  their 
business  in  connection  with  themselves  was  to  be- 
tray and  catch  fugitive  slaves  for  the  reward  oifer- 
ed.  They  undertook  to  justify  the  act  by  saying  if 
they  had  not  betrayed  me,  that  somebody  else  would, 
and  if  I  would  tell  them  where  they  could  catch  a 
number  of  other  runaway  slaves,  they  would  pay 
for  me  and  set  me  free,  and  would  then  take  me  in 
as  one  of  the  Club.  They  said  I  would  soon  make 
money  enough  to  bpuy  my  wife  and  child  out  of 
slavery. 

But  I  replied,  "  No,  gentlemen,  I  cannot  commit 
or  do  an  act  of  that  kind,  even  if  it  were  in  m}'-  pow- 
er so  to  do.  I  know  that  I  am  now  in  the  power  of 
a  master  who  can  sell  me  from  my  family  for  life,  or 
punish  me  for  the  crime  of  running  away,  just  as  lis 
pleases  :  I  know  that  I  am  a  prisoner  for  life,  and 
have  no  way  of  extricating  myself ;  and  I  also  know 
that  I  have  been  deceived  and  betrayed  by  men  who 


68  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

professed  to  be  my  best  friends  ;  but  can  all  this 
justify  me  in  becoming  a  traitor  to  others  ?  Can  I  do 
that  which  I  complain  of  others  for  doing  unto  me  ? 
Never,  I  trust,  while  a  single  pulsation  of  my  heart 
continues  to  beat,  can  I  consent  to  betray  a  fellow 
man  like  myself  back  into  bondage,  who  has  escap- 
ed. Dear  as  I  love  my  wife  and  little  child,  and  as 
much  as  I  should  like  to  enjoy  freedom  and  happi- 
ness with  them,  I  am  unwilling  to  bring  this  about 
by  betraying  and  destroying  the  liberty  and  happi- 
ness of  others  who  have  never  offended  me  !" 

I  then  asked  them  again  if  they  would  do  me  the 
kindness  to  tell  me  who  it  was  betrayed  me  into 
their  hands  at  Cincinnati  ?  They  agreed  to  tell 
me  with  the  understanding  that  I  was  to  tell  where 
there  was  living,  a  family  of  slaves  at  the  North, 
who  had  run  av,^ay  from  Mr.  King  of  Kentucky.  I 
should  not  have  agreed  to  this,  but  I  knew  the  slaves 
were  in  Canada,  where  it  was  not  possible  for  them 
to  be  captured.  After  they  had  told  me  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  betrayed  me,  and  how  it  was 
done,  then  I  told  them  their  slaves  were  in  Canada, 
doing  well.  The  two  white  men  were  Constables, 
who  claimed  the  right  of  taking  up  any  strange 
colored  person  as  a  slave  ;  while  the  two  colored 
kidnappers,  under  the  pretext  of  being  abolitionists, 
would  find  out  all  the  fugitives  they  could,  and 
inform  these  Constables  for  which  they  got  a  part 
of  the  reward,  after  they  had  found  out  where  the 
slaves  were  from,  the  name  of  his  master,  &c.  By 
the  agency  of  these  colored  men,  they  were  seized  by  a 


'^^^^ 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  69 

band  of  white  ruffians,  locked  up  in  jail,  and  their 
master  sent  for.  These  colored  kidnappers^  with  the 
Constables,  were  getting  rich  by  betraying  fugitive 
slaves.  This  v/as  told  to  me  by  one  of  the  Consta- 
bles, while  they  were  all  standing  around  trying  to 
induce  me  to  engage  in  the  same  business  for  the 
sake  of  regaining  my  own  liberty,  and  that  of  my 
wife  and  child.  But  my  answer  even  there,  under 
the  most  trying  circumstances,  surrounded  by  the 
strongest  enemies  of  God  and  man,  was  most  em- 
phatically in  the  negative.  "  Let  my  punishment  be 
what  it  may,  either  with  the  lash  or  by  selling  me 
away  from  my  friends  and  home  ;  let  my  destiny  be 
what  you  please,  I  can  never  engage  in  this  business 
for  the  sake  of  getting  free." 

They  said  I  should  not  be  sold  nor  punished  with 
the  lash  for  what  I  had  done,  but  I  should  be  carried 
back  to  Bedford,  to  live  with  my  wife.  Yet  when 
the  boat  got  to  where  we  should  have  landed,  she 
wafted  by  without  making  any  stop.  I  felt  awful 
in  view  of  never  seeing  my  family  again;  they  asked 
what  was  the  matter  ?  what  made  me  look  so  cast 
down  ?  I  informed  them  that  I  knew  I  was  to  be 
sold  in  the  Louisville  slave  market,  or  in  New 
Orleans,  and  I  iiever  expected  to  see  my  family 
again.  But  they  tried  to  pacify  me  by  promising 
not  to  sell  me  to  a  slave  trader  who  would  take  me 
off  to  New  Orleans  ;  cautioning  me  at  the  same 
time  not  to  let  it  be  knov/n  that  I  had  been  a  runa- 
way. This  would  very  much  lessen  the  value  of  me 
in  market      They   would  not  punish  me  by  putting 


70 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 


irons  on  my  limbs,  but  would  give  me  a  good  name, 
and  sell  me  to  some  gentleman  in  Louisville  for  a 
house  servant.  They  thought  I  would  soon  make 
money  enough  to  buy  myself,  and  would  not  part 
with  me  if  they  could  get  along  without.  But  I 
had  cost  them  so  much  in  advertising  and  looking 
for  me,  that  they  were  involved  by  it.  In  the  first 
place  they  paid  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for 
me  ;  and  when  I  first  run  away,  they  paid  one  hundred 
for  advertising  and  looking  after  me;  and  now  they 
had  to  pay  about  forty  dollars,  expenses  travelling 
to  and  from  Cincinnati,  in  addition  to  the  three 
hundred  dollars  reward ;  and  they  were  not  able  to 
pay  the  reward  without  selling  me. 

I  knew  then  the  only  alternative  left  for  me  to 
extricate  myself  was  to  use  deception,  which  is  the 
most  effectual  defence  a  slave  can  use.  I  pretended 
to  be  satisfied  for  the  purpose  of  getting  an  oppor- 
tunity of  giving  them  the  slip. 

But  oh,  the  distress  of  mind,  the  lamentable 
thought  that  I  should  never  again  see  the  face  nor 
hear  the  gentle  voice  of  my  nearest  and  dearest 
friends  in  this  life.  I  could  imagine  what  must  be 
my  fate  from  my  peculiar  situation.  To  be  sold 
to  the  highest  bidder,  and  then  wear  the  chains 
of  slavery  down  to  the  grave.  The  day  star  of 
liberty  which  had  once  cheered  and  gladdened  my 
heart  in  freedom's  land,  had  then  bidden  itself  from 
my  vision,  and  the  dark  and  dismal  frown  of  slavery 
had  obscured  the  sunshine  of  freedom  from  me,  as 
they  supposed  for  all  time  to  come. 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY     BIBB, 


71 


But  the  understanding  between  us  was,  I  was  not 
to  be  tied,  chained,  nor  flogged  ;  for  if  they  should 
take  me  into  the  city  handcuffed  and  guarded  by 
five  men  the  question  might  be  asked  what  crime  I 
had  committed  ?  And  if  it  should  be  known  that  I 
had  been  a  runaway  to  Canada,  it  would  lessen  tho 
value  of  me  at  least  one  hundred  dollars. 


ilai;^^  iiiiiiii 


CHAPTER   VI 


Arrival  at  Louisville,  Ky. — Eflbrts  to  sell  me. — Fortunate  escape 
from  the  man-stealers  in  the  public  street. — I  return  to  Bed 
t'onl.  Ky. — Tlie  rescue  of  my  family  again  attempted. — I  star* 
ed  alone  expecting  them  to  follow. — After  waiting  some  months 
I  resolve  to  go  back  again  to  Kentucky. 

Wpien  the  boat  arrived  at  Louisville,  the  day  be- 
ing too  far  spent  for  them  to  dispose  of  me,  they  had 
to  put  up  at  a  Hotel.  When  we  left  the  boat,  they 
were  afraid  of  my  bolting  from  them  in  the  street, 
and  to  prevent  this  they  took  hold  of  my  arms,  one 
on  each  side  of  me,  gallanting  me  up  to  the  hotel 
with  as  much  propriety  2,?  if  I  had  been  a  white  lady. 
This  was  to  deceive  the  people,  and  prevent  my 
getting  away  from  them. 

They  called  for  a  bed-room  to  which  I  was  con 
ducted  and  locked  within.  That  night  three  of 
them  lodged  in  the  same  room  to  guard  me.  They  , 
locked  the  door  and  put  the  key  laider  the  head  of 
their  bed.  I  could  see  no  possible  wa}^  for  my 
escape  without  jumping  out  of  a  high  three  story 
house  window. 

It  was  almost  impossible  for  me  to  sleep  that 
night  in  my  peculiar  situation.  I  passed  the  night 
in  prayer  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  asking  that  He 
would  open  to  me  even  the  smallest  chance  for  es- 
cape. 


4 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  73 

The  ^te-jfcC  morning  after  they  had  taken  breakfast, 
ft»<ir  of  them  left  me  in  the  care  of  Dan  Lane.  He 
WAS  wi;at  3KiIght  be  called  one  of  the  watch  dogs  of 
Kenlicky.  There  t\  as  nothing  too  mean  for  him  to 
do.  He  never  blushed  to  rob  a  slave  mother  of  her 
children,  no  matter  how  young  or  small.  He  was 
also  celebrated  for  slave  selling,  kidnapping,  and 
negro  hunting.  He  was  well  known  in  that  region 
by  the  slaves  as  well  a&-  the  slaveholders,  to  have 
all  the  quaJifications  necessary  for  his  business.  He 
was  a  drunkard,  a  gambler,  a  profligate,  and  a  slave- 
holder. 

While  the  other  four  wore  looking  around  through 
the  city  for  a  purchaser,  Dan  was  guarding  me  with 
his  t)owie  knife  and  pistols.  After  a  while  the  others 
came  in  with  two  persons  to  buy  me,  but  on  seeing 
ine  they  remarked  that  they  thought  I  would  run 
away,  and  asked  me  if  I  had  ever  run  away.  Dan 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  answered  the  question  forme, 
by  telling  one  of  the  most  palpable  falsehoods  that 
ever  came  from  the  lips  of  a  slaveholder.  He  de-'' 
Glared  that  I  had  never  run  away  in  my  life  ! 

Fortunately  for  me,  Dan,  while  the  others  were 
away,  became  unwell;  and  from  taking  salts,  or 
from  some  other  cause,  was  compelled  to  leave  his 
room.  Off  he  started, to  the  horse  stable  which  was 
located  on  one  of  the  most  public  streets  of  Louis* 
ville,  and  of  course  I  had  to  accompany  him.  He 
fjallanted  me  into  the  stable  by  the  arm,  and  placed 
himself  back  in  one  of  the  horses  stalls  and  ordered 
me  to  stand  by  until  he  was  ready  to  come  out. 

At  this  time  a  thousand  thoughts  were  flashing 


74  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

through  my  mind  with  regard  to  the  propriety  of 
trying  the  springs  of  my  heels,  which  nature  had  so 
well  adapted  for  taking  the  body  out  of  danger, 
even  in  the  most  extraordinary  emergencies.  I 
thought  in  the  attempt  to  get  away  by  running,  if  I 
should  not  succeed,  it  could  make  my  condition  no 
worse,  for  they  could  but  sell  me  and  this  they  were 
then  trying  to  do.  These  thoughts  impelled  me  to 
keep  edging  towards  the  door,  though  very  cautious- 
ly. Dan  kept  looking  around  after  me  as  if  he  was 
not  satisfied  at  my  getting  so  near  to  the  door.  But 
the  last  I  saw  of  him  in  the  stable  was  just  as  he 
turned  his  eyes  from  me ;  I  nerved  myself  with  all 
the  moral  courage  I  could  command  and  bolted  for 
the  door,  perhaps  with  the  fleetness  of  a  much  fright- 
ened deer,  who  never  looks  behind  in  time  of  peril. 
Dan  was  left  in  the  stable  to  make  ready  for  the 
race,  or  jump  out  into  the  street  half  dressed,  and 
thereby  disgrace  himself  before  the  public  eye. 

It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  set  forth  the 
speed  with  which  I  run  to  avoid  my  adversary ;  I 
succeeded  in  turning  a  corner  before  Dan  got  sight 
of  me,  and  by  fast  running,  turning  corners,  and 
jumping  high  fences,  I  was  enabled  to  effect  my  es- 
cape. 

In  running  so  swiftly  through  the  public  streets,  I 
thought  it  would  be  a  safer  course  to  leave  the  pub- 
lic way,  and  as  quick  as  thought  I  spied  a  high 
board  fence  by  the  way  and  attempted  to  leap  over 
it.  The  top  board  broke  and  down  I  came  into  a 
hen-coop  which  stood  by  the  fence.  The  dogs  bark- 
ed, and  the  hens  flew  and  cackled  so,  that  I  feared  it 


NARRATIVE    OP    HENRY    EIBB.  75 

would  lead  to  my  detection  before  I  could  get  out  of 
the  yard. 

The  reader  can  only  imagine  how  great  must  have 
been  the  excited  state  of  my  mind  while  exposed  to 
such  extraordinary  peril  and  danger  on  every  side. 
In  danger  of  being  seized  by  a  savage  dog,  which 
sprang  at  me  when  I  fell  into  the  hen-coop ;  in  dan- 
ger of  being  apprehended  by  the  tenants  of  the  lot ; 
in  danger  of  being  shot  or  wounded  by  any  one  who 
miglit  have  attempted  to  stop  me,  a  runaway  slave ; 
and  in  danger  on  the  other  hand  of  being  overtaken 
and  getting  in  conflict  with  my  adversary.  With 
these  fearful  apprehensions,  ca,ution  dictated  me  not 
to  proceed  far  by  day-light  in  this  slaveholding  city. 

At  this  moment  every  nerve  and  muscle  of  my 
whole  system  was  in  full  stretch  ;  and  every  facility 
of  the  mind  brought  into  action  striving  to  save  my- 
self from  being  re-captured.  I  dared  not  go  to  the 
forest,  knowing  that  I  might  be  tracked  by  blood- 
hounds, and  overtaken.  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to 
find  a  hiding  place  in  the  city  which  seemed  to  be 
pointed  out  by  the  finger  of  Providence.  After 
running  across  lots,  turniiig  corners,  and  shunning 
my  fellow  men,  as  if  they  were  wild  ferocious  beasts, 
I  found  abiding  place  in  a  pile  of  boards  or  scantling, 
where  I  kept  concealed  during  that  day. 

No  tongue  nor  pen  can  describe  the  dreadful  ap- 
prehensions under  which  I  labored  for  the  space  of 
ten  or  twelve  hours.  My  hiding  place  happened  to 
be  between  two  workshops,  where  there  Ave  re  men  at 
work  within  six  or  eight  feet  of  me.  I  coiiM  imag- 
ine   that  I  heard  them  talkin^^  about  me,    and    at 


76  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

Other  times  thought  I  heard  the  footsteps  of  Daniel 
Lane  in  close  pursuit.  But  I  retained  my  position 
there  until  9  or  10  o'clock  at  night,  without  being 
discovered  ;  after  which  I  attempted  to  find  my  way 
out,  which  was  exceedingly  difficult.  The  night 
being  \ery  dark,  in  a  strange  city,  among  slavehold- 
ers and  slave  hunters,  to  me  it  was  like  a  person 
entering  a  wilderness  among  wolves  and  vipers, 
blindfolded.  I  was  compelled  from  necessity  to 
enter  this  place  for  refuge  under  the  most  extraor- 
dinary state  of  excitement,  without  regard  to  its 
geographical  position.  I  found  myself  surrounded 
with  a  large  block  of  buildings,  which  comprised  a 
whole  square,  built  up  mostly  on  three  sides,  so 
that  I  could  see  no  way  to  pass  out  without  expos- 
ing myself  perhaps  to  the  gaze  of  patrols,  or  slave 
catchers. 

In  wandering  around  through  the.dark,  I  happen- 
ed to  find  a  calf  in  a  back  yard,  which  was  baw- 
ling after  the  cow;  the  cow  was  also  lowing  in 
another  direction,  as  if  they  were  trying  to  find 
each  other.  A  thought  struck  me  that  there  must 
be  an  outlet  somewhere  about,  where  the  cow  and 
calf  were  trying  to  meet.  I  started  in  the  dii-ection 
where  I  heard  the  lowing  of  the  cow,  and  I  found 
an  arch  or  tunnel  extending  between  two  large  brick 
buildings,  where  I  could  see  nothing  of  the  cow 
but  her  eyes,  shining  like  balls  of  fire  through  the 
dark  tunnel,  between  the  walls,  through  which  I 
passed  to  where  she  stood.  When  I  entered  the 
streets  I  found  them  well  lighted  up.  My  heart  was 
gladdened  to  know  there  was  another  char>r-o  ^^r 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  77 

my  escape.  No  bird  ever  let  out  of  a  ca.ge  felt  more 
like  flying,  than  I  felt  like  running. 

Before  I  left  the  city,  I  chanced  to  find  by  the 
way,  an  old  man  of  color.  Supposing  him  to  be  a 
friend,  I  ventured  to  make  known  my  situation,  and 
asked  him  if  he  would  get  me  a  bite  to  eat.  The 
old  man  most  cheerfully  complied  with  my  request. 
I  was  then  about  forty  miles  from  the  residence  of 
Wm.  Gatewood,  where  my  wife,  whom  I  sought  to 
rescue  from  slavery,  was  living.  This  was  also 
in  the  direction  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  travel 
in  order  to  get  back  to  the  free  North.  Knowing 
that  the  slave  catchers  would  most  likely  be 
watching  the  public  highway  for  me,  to  avoid  them 
I  made  my  way  over  the  rocky  hills,  woods  and 
plantations,  back  to  Bedford. 

I  travelled  all  that  night,  guided  on  my  way  by 
the  shining  stars  of  heaven  alone.  The  next  morn- 
ing just  before  the  break  of  day,  I  came  right  to  a 
large  plantation,  about  which  I  secreted  myself, 
until  the  darkness  of  the  next  night  began  to  dis- 
appear. The  morning  larks  commenced  to  chirp 
and  sing  merrily — pretty  soon  I  heard  the  whip 
crack,  and  the  voice  of  the  ploughman  driving  in  the 
corn  field.  About  brealdast  time,  I  heard  the  sound 
of  a  horn;  saw  a  number  of  slaves  in  the  field  with 
a  white  man,  who  I  supposed  to  be  their  overseer. 
He  started  to  the  house  before  the  slaves,  which 
gave  me  an  opportunity  to  get  the  attention  of  one 
of  the  slaves,  whom  I  met  at  the  fence,  before  he 
started  to  his  breakfast,  and  made  known  to  him  my 
wants  and  distresses.     I  also  requested  him  to  bring 


78  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

me  a  piece  of  bread  if  he  could  when  he  came  back 
to  the  field. 

The  hospitable  slave  complied  with  my  request. 
He  came  back  to  the  field  before  his  fellow  laborers, 
and  brought  me  something  to  eat,  and  as  an  equivo- 
lent  for  his  kindness,  I  instructed  him  with  regard 
to  liberty,  Canada,  the  way  of  escape,  and  the  facili- 
ties by  the  way.  He  pledgedhis  word  that  himself  and 
others  would  be  in  Canada,  in  less  than  six  months 
from  that  day.  This  closed  our  interview,  and  we 
separated.  I  concealed  myself  in  the  forest  until 
about  sunset,  before  I  pursued  my  journey  ;  and  the 
second  night  from  Louisville,  I  arrived  again  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Bedford,  where  my  little  family 
were  held  in  bondage,  whom  I  so  earnestly  strove 
to  rescue. 

I  concealed  myself  by  the  aid  of  a  friend  in  that 
neighborhood,  intending  again  to  make  my  escape 
with  my  family.  This  confidential  friend  then  car- 
ried a  message  to  Malinda,  requesting  her  to  meet 
me  on  one  side  of  the  village. 

We  met  under  the  most  fearful  apprehensions,  for 
my  pursuers  had  returned  from  Louisville,  with  the 
lamentable  story  that  I  was  gone,  and  yet  they  were 
compelled  to  pay  three  hundred  dollars  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati slave  catchers  for  re-capturing  me  there. 

Daniel  Lane's  account  of  my  escape  from  him, 
looked  so  unreasonable  to  slaveholders,  that  many 
of  them  charged  him  with  selling  me  and  keeping 
the  money ;  while  others  believed  that  I  had  got 
away  from  him,  and  was  then  in  the  neighborhood, 
trying  to  take  off"  my  wife  and  child,  which  was  true. 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    EIBB.  79 

Lane  decla.red  that  in"  less  than  five  minutes  after  I 
run  out  of  the  stable  in  Louisville,  he  had  over 
twenty  men  running  and  looking  in  every  direction 
after  me ;  but  all  without  success.  They  could 
hear  nothing  of  me.  They  had  turned  over  seve- 
ral tons  of  hay  in  a  large  loft,  in  search,  and  I  was 
not  to  be  found  there.  Dan  imputed  my  escape  to 
my  godliness  !  He  said  that  I  must  have  gone  up 
in  a  chariot  of  fire,  for  I  went  off  by  flying  ;  and  that 
he  should  never  again  have  any  thing  to  do  with  a 
praying  negro. 

Great  excitement  prevailed  in  Bedford,  and  many 
were  out  watching  for  me  at  the  time  Malinda  was 
relating  to  me  these  facts.  The  excitement  was 
then  so  great  among  the  slaveholders — who  were 
anxious  to  have  me  re-captured  as  a  means  of  dis- 
couraging other  slaves'  from  running  away — that 
time  and  money  were  no  object  while  there  was  the 
least  prospect  of  their  success,  I  therefore  declined 
making  an  effort  just  at  that  time  to  escape  with  my 
little  family.  Malinda  managed  to  get  me  into  the 
house  of  a  friend  that  night,  in  the  village,  where  I 
kept  concealed  several  days  seeking  an  opportunity 
to  escape  with  Malinda  and  Frances  to  Canada. 

But  for  some  time  Malinda  was  watched  so  very 
closely  by  white  and  by  colored  persons,  both  day 
and  night,  that  it  Vv^as  not  possible  for  us  to  escape 
together.  They  well  knew  that  my  little  family 
was  the  only  object  of  a,ttraction  that  ever  had-  or 
ever  would  induce  me  to  come  back  and  risk  my  lib- 
erty over  the  threshold  of  slavery — therefore  this 
point  was  w^ell  guarded  by  the  watch  dogs  of  slavery, 


80  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

and  I  was  compelled  again  to  forsake  my  wife  for  a 
season,  or  surrender,  which  was  suicidal  to  the  cause 
of  freedom,  in  my  judgment. 

The  next  day  after  my  arrival  in  Bedford,  Daniel 
Lane  came  to  the  very  house  wherein  I  was  conceal- 
ed and  talked  in  my  hearing  to  the  family  about  my 
escape  from  him  out  of  the  stable  in  Louisville. 
He  was  near  enough  for  me  to  have  laid  my  hands 
on  his  head  while  in  that  house — and  the  intimida- 
tion which  this  produced  on  me  was  more  than  I 
could  bear.  I  was  also  aware  of  the  great  temptation 
of  the  reward  offered  to  white  or  colored  persons 
for  my  apprehension ;  I  was  exposed  to  other  calam- 
ities which  rendered  it  altogether  unsafe  for  me  to 
stay  longer  under  that  roof. 

One  morning  about  2  o'clock,  I  took  leave  of  my 
little  family  and  started  for  "Canada.  This  was  al- 
most like  tearing  off  the  limbs  from  my  body.  When 
we  were  about  to  separate,  Malinda  clasped  my  hand 
exclaiming,  "  oh  my  soul !  my.  heart  is  almost  brok- 
en at  the  thought  of  this  dangerous  separation. 
This  may  be  the  last  time  we  shall  ever  see  each 
other's  faces  in  this  life,  which  will  destroy  all  my 
future  prospects  of  life  and  happiness  forever."  At 
this  tune  the  poor  unhappy  woman  burst  into  tears 
and  wept  loudly  ;  and  my  eyes  were  not  dry.  We 
separated  with  the  understanding  that  she  was  to 
wait  until  the  excitement  was  all  over  ;  after  which 
she  was  to  meet  me  at  a  certain  place  in  the  State 
of  Ohio ;  which  would  not  be  longer  than  two  months 
from  that  time. 

I  succeeded  that  night  in  getting  a  steamboat  con- 


"  My  heart  is  almost  broken. 


82  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

veyance  back  to  Cincinnati,  or  within  ten  miles  of 
the  city.  I  was  apprehensive  that  there  were  slave- 
hunters  in  Cincinnati,  watching  the  arrival  of  every 
boat  up  the  river,  expecting  to  catch  me ;  and  the 
boat  landing  to  take  in  wood  ten  miles  below  the 
city,  I  got  off  and  walked  into  Cincinnati,  to  avoid 
detection. 

No  my  arrival  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  I  heard 
that  the  two  young  men  who  betrayed  me  for  the 
three  hundreddollars  had  returned  and  were  watching 
forme.  One  of  my  friends  in  whom  they  had  great 
confidence,  called  on  the  traitors,  after  he  had  talked 
withme,  and  asked  them  what  they  had  done  with  me. 
Their  reply  was  that  I  had  given  them  the  slip,and  that 
they  were  glad  of  it,  because  they  believed  that  I 
was  a  good  man,  and  if  they  could  see  me  on  my 
way  to  Canada,  they  would  give  me  money  to  aid 
me  on  my  escape.  My  friend  assured  them  that  if 
they  would  give  any  thing  to  aid  me  on  my  way, 
much  or  little,  if  they  would  put  the  same  into  his 
hands,  he  would  give  it  to  me  that  night,  or  return 
it  to  them  the  next  morning. 

They  then  wanted  to  know  where  I  was  and 
whether  I  was  in  the  city;  but  he  would  not  tell 
them,  but  one  of  them  gave  him  one  dollar  for  me, 
promising  that  if  I  was  in  the  city,  and  ho  would 
let  him  know  the  next  morning,  he  would  give  me 
ten  dollars. 

But  I  never  waited  for  the  ten  dollars.  I  receiv- 
ed one  dollar  of  the  amount  which  they  got  for  be- 
traying me,  and  started  that  night  for  the  north. 
Their   excuse  for  betraying  me,  was,  that  catching 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  83 

runaways  was  their  business,  and  if  they  had  not 
done  it  somebody  else  would,  but  since  they  had  got 
the  reward  they  were  glad  that  I  had  made  my 
escape. 

Having  travelled  the  road  several  times  from  Cin- 
cinnati to  Lake  Erie,  I  travelled  through  without 
much  fear  or  difficulty.  My  friends  in  Perrysburgh, 
who  knew  that  I  had  gone  back  into  the  very  jaws 
of  slavery  after  my  family,  were  much  surprised  at 
my  return,  for  they  had  heard  that  I  was  re-cap- 
tured. 

After  I  had  waited  three  months  for  the  arrival  of 
Malinda,  and  she  came  not,  it  caused  me  to  be  one 
of  the  most  unhappy  fugitives  that  ever  left  the 
South.  I  had  waited  eight  or  nine  months  without 
hearing  from  my  family.  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty,  as 
a  husband  and  father,  to  make  one  more  effort.  I 
felt  as  if  I  could  not  give  them  up  to  be  sacrificed  on 
the  "  bloody  altar  of  slavery."  Ifelt  as  if  love,  duty, 
humanity  and  justice,  required  that  I  should  go  back, 
putting  my  trust  in  the  God  of  Liberty  for  success. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


My  safe  return  to  Kentucky. — The  perils  I  encountered  there.— 
Again  betrayed,  and  taken  by  a  mob ;  ironed  and  imprisoned. 
— Narrow  escape  from  death. — Life  in  a  skive  prison. 

I  prepared  myself  for  the  journey  before  named, 
and  started  back  in  the  month  of  July,  1839. 

My  intention  was,  to  let  no  person  know  my  busi- 
ness until  I  returned  back  to  the  North.  I  went  to 
Cincinnati,  and  got  a  passage  down  on  bo^'d  of  a, 
boat  just  as  I  did  the  first  time,  without  any  mis- 
fortune or  delay.  I  called  on  my  mother,  and  the 
raising  of  a  dead  body  from  the  grave  could  not  have 
been  more  surprising  to  any  one  than  my  arrival  was 
to  her,  on  that  sad  summer's  night.  She  was  not 
able  to  suppress  her  feelings.  When  I  entered  the 
room,  there  was  but  one  other  person  in  the  house 
with  my  mother,  and  this  was  a  little  slave  girl  who 
was  asleep  when  I  entered.  The  impulsive  feeling 
which  is  ever  ready  to  act  itself  out  at  the  return  of 
a  long  absent  friend,  was  more  than  my  bereaved 
mother  could  suppress.  And  unfortunately  for  me, 
the  loud  shouts  of  joy  at  that  late  hour  of  the  night, 
awakened  the  little  slave  girl,  who  afterwards  be- 
trayed me.  She  kept  perfectly  still,  and  never  let 
either  of  us  know  that  she  was  awake,  in  order  that 
she   might  hear  our   conversation   and   report   it« 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  85 

Mother  informed  me  where  my  family  was  living, 
and  that  she  would  see  them  the  next  day,  and 
would  make  arrangements  for  us  to  meet  the  next 
night  at  that  house  after  the  people  in  the  village 
had  gone  to  bed.  I  then  went  off  and  concealed  my- 
self during  the  next  day,  and  according  to  promise 
came  back  the  next  night  about  eleven  o'clock. 

When  I  got  near  the  house,  moving  very  cau- 
tiously, filled  with  fearful  apprehensions,  I  saw 
several  men  walking  around  the  house  as  if  they 
were  looking  for  some  person.  I  went  back  and 
waited  about  one  hour,  before  I  returned,  and  the 
number  of  men  had  increased.  They  were  still 
to  be  seen  lurking  about  this  house,  with  dogs 
following  them.  This  strange  movement  frightened 
me  off  again,  and  I  never  returned  until  after  mid- 
night, at  which  time  I  slipped  up  to  the  window, 
and  rapped  for  my  mother,  who  sprang  to  it 
and  informed  me  that  I  was  betrayed  by  the  girl 
who  overheard  our  conversation  the  night  before. 
She  thought  that  if  I  could  keep  out  of  the  way  for 
a  few  days,  the  white  people  would  think  that 
this  girl  was  mistaken,  or  had  lied.  She  had  told 
her  old  mistress  that  I  was  there  that  night,  and 
had  made  a  plot  with  my  mother  to  get  my  wife  and 
child  there  the  next  night,  and  that  I  was  going  to 
take  them  off  to  Canada. 

I  went  off  to  a  friend  of  mine,  who  rendered  me  all 
the  aid  that  one  slave  could  render  another,  under 
the  circumstances.  Thank  God  he  is  now  free  from 
slavery,  and  is  doing  well.  He  was  a  messenger  for 
me  to  my  wife  and  mother,  until  at  the  suggestion 


86  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

of  my  mother,  I  changed  an  old  friend  for  a  new  one, 
who  betrayed  me  for  the  sum  of  five  dollars. 

We  had  set  the  thne  when  we  were  to  start  for 
Canada,  which  was  to  be  on  the  next  Saturday  night. 
My  mother  had  an  old  friend  whom  she  thought  was 
true,  and  she  got  him  to  conceal  me  in  a  barn,  not 
oyer  two  miles  from  the  village.  This  man  brought 
provisions  to  me,  sent  by  my  mother,  and  would  tell 
me  the  news  which  was  in  circulation  about  me, 
among  the  citizens.  But  the  poor  fellow  was  not 
able  to  withstand  the  temptation  of  money. 

My  owners  had  about  given  me  up,  and  thought  the 
report  of  the  slave  girl  was  false  ^  but  they  had  of- 
fered a  little  reward  among  the  slaves  for  my  ap- 
prehension. The  night  before  I  was  betrayed,  I 
met  with  my  mother  and  wife,  and  we  had  set  up 
nearly  all  night  plotting  to  start  on  the  next  Satur- 
day night.  I  hid  myself  away  in  the  flax  in  the 
barn,  and  being  much  rest  broken  I  slept  until  the 
next  morning  about  9  o'clock.  Then  I  was  awak- 
ened by  a  mob  of  blood  thirsty  slaveholders,  who 
had  come  armed  with  all  the  implements  of  death, 
with  a  determination  to  reduce  me  again  to  a  life  of 
slavery,  or  murder  mc  on  the  spot. 

When  I  looked  up  and  saw  that  I  was  surrounded, 
they  were  exclaiming  at  the  top  of  their  voices, 
"  shoot  him  down  !  shoot  him  down  !"  "  If  he  of- 
fers to  run,  or  to  resist,  kill  him  !" 

I  saw  it  v»^as  no  use  then  for  me  to  make  any  re- 
sistance, as  I  should  be  murdered.  I  felt  confident 
that  I  had  been  betrayed  by  a  slave,  and  all  my 
flattering  prospects  of  rescuing  my  family  were  gone 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  87 

for  ever,  and  the  grim  monster  slavery  with  all  its 
horrors  was  staring  me  in  the  face. 

I  surrendered  myself  to  this  hostile  mob  at  once. 
The  first  thing  done,  after  they  had  laid  violent 
hands  on  me,  was  to  bind  my  hands  behind  me  with 
a  cord,  and  rob  me  of  all  I  possessed. 

In  searching  my  pockets,  they  found  my  certifi- 
cate from  the  Methodist  E.  Church,  which  had  been 
given  me  by  my  classleader,  testifying  to  my  worthi- 
ness as  a  member  of  that  church.  And  what  made 
the  matter  look  more  disgraceful  to  me,  many  of  this 
mob  were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  they 
were  the  persons  who  took  away  my  church  ticket, 
and  then  robbed  me  also  of  fourteen  dollars  in  cash, 
a  silver  watch  for  which  I  paid  ten  dollars,  a  pocket 
knife  for  which  I  paid  seventy-five  cents,  and  a 
Bible  for  which  I  paid  sixty- two  and  one  half  cents. 
All  this  they  tyrannically  robbed  me  of,  and  yet  my 
owner,  Wm.  Gatewood,  was  a  regular  member  of 
the  same  church  to  which  I  belonged. 

He  then  had  me  taken  to  a  blacksmith's  shop,  and 
most  wickedly  had  my  limbs  bound  with  heavy  irons, 
and  then  had  my  body  locked  within  the  cold  dun- 
geon walls  of  the  Be^ord  jail,  to  be  sold  to  a  South- 
ern slave  trader. 

My  heart  was  filled  with  griefs — my  eyes  were 
filled  with  tears.  I  could  see  no  way  of  escape.  I 
could  hear  no  voice  of  consolation.  Slaveholders 
were  coming  to  the  dungeon  window  in  great  num- 
bers to  ask  me  questions.  Some  were  rejoicing — 
some  swearing,  and  others  saying  that  I  ought  to  be 
hung  ;  while  others  were  in  favor  of  sending  both 


88  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

me  and  my  wife  to  New  Orleans.  They  supposed 
that  I  had  informed  her  all  about  the  facililies  for 
slaves  to  escape  to  Canada,  and  that  she  would  tell 
other  slaves  after  I  was  gone  ;  hence  we  must  all 
be  sent  off  to  where  we  could  neither  escape  our- 
selves, nor  instruct  others  the  way. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  Malinda  was 
permitted  to  visit  the  prison  wherein  I  was  locked, 
but  was  not  permitted  to  enter  the  door.  When 
she  looked  through  the  dungeon  grates  and  saw  my 
sad  situation,  which  was  caused  by  my  repeated  ad- 
ventures to  rescue  her  and  my  little  daughter  from 
the  grasp  of  slavery,  it  was  more  than  she  cpuld 
bear  without  bursting  in  tears.  She  plead  for  ad- 
mission into  the  cold  dungeon  where  I  was  confined, 
but  without  success.  With  manacled  limbs;,  with 
wounded  spirit ;  with  sympathising  tears  and  with 
bleeding  heart,  I  intreated  Malinda  to  weep  not  for 
me,  for  it  only  added  to  my  grief,  which  was  greater 
than  I  could  bear. 

I  have  often  suffered  from  the  sting  of  the  cruel 
slave  driver's  lash  on  my  quivering  flesh — I  have 
suffered  from  corporeal  punishment  in  its  various 
forms — I  have  mingled  my  sorrows  with  those  that 
were  bereaved  by  the  ungodly  soul  drivers — and  I 
also  know  what  it  is  to  shed  the  sympathetic  tear 
at  the  grave  of  a  departed  friend ;  but  all  this  is  but 
a  mere  trifle  compared  with  my  sufferings  from  then 
to  the  end  of  six  months  subsequent. 

The  second  night  while  I  was  in  jail,  two  slaves 
came  to  the  dungeon  grates  about  the  dead  hour  oi 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  89 

Bight,  and  called  me  to  the  grates  to  have  some  con- 
rersation  about  Canada,  and  the  facilities  for  get- 
ting  there.  They  knew  that  I  had  travelled  over 
the  road,  and  they  were  determined  to  run  away 
and  go  where  they  could  be  free.  I  of  course  took 
great  pleasure  in  giving  them  directions  how  and 
where  to  go,  and  they  started  in  less  than  a  week 
from  that  time  and  got  clear  to  Canada.  I  hafe 
seen  them  both  since  I  came  back  to  the  north 
myself.  They  were  known  by  the  names  of  King  and 
Jack. 

The  third  day  I  was  brought  ou|^of  the  prison  to 
be  carried  off  with  my  little  family  to  the  Louisville 
slave  market.  My  hands  were  fastened  together 
with  heavy  irons,  and  two  men  to  guard  me  with 
loaded  rifles,  one  of  whom  led  the  horse  upon  which 
I  rode.  My  wife  and  child  were  set  upon  another 
nag.  After  we  were  all  ready  to  start  my  old  master 
thought  I  was  not  quite  safe  enough,  and  ordered 
one  of  the  boys  to  bring  him  a  bed  cord  from  the 
store.  He  then  tied  my  feet  together  under  the 
horse,  declaring  that  if  I  flew  ofi"  this  time,  I  should 
fly  off  with  the  horse. 

Many  tears  were  shed  on  that  occasion  by  oui 
friends  and  relatives,  who  saw  us  dragged  off  ii 
irons  to  be  sold  in  the  human  flesh  market,  'Nc- 
tongue  could  express  the  deep  anguish  of  my  souA 
when  I  saw  the  silent  tear  drops  streaming  down 
the  sable  cheeks  of  an  aged  slave  mother,  at  my  de- 
parture ;  and  that  too,  caused  by  a  black  hearted 
traitor  who  was  himself  a  slave  : 


90  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

"I  love  the  man  with  a  feeling  soul. 

Whose  passions  arc  deep  and  strong? ; 

Whose  cords,  when  touched  with  a  kindred  power, 

Will  vibrate  loud  and  long : 

"  The  man  whose  word  is  bond  and  law — 
Who  ne'er  for  2;old  or  power, 
Would  kiss  the  hand  that  would  stab  the  heart 
In  adversity's  trying  hour." 

"I  love  the  man  who  delights  to  help 
The  panting,  struggling  poor  : 
The  man  that  will  open  his  heart, 
Nor  close  against  the  fugitive  at  his  door. 

''  Oh  give  me  a  heart  that  will  firmly  stand, 
When  the  storm  of  affliction  shall  lower — 
A  hand  that  will  never  shrink,  if  grasped, 
In  misfortune's  darkest  hour." 

s         -      . 

As  we  approached  the  city  of  Louisville,  we  at- 
tracted much  attention,  my  being  tied  and  hand- 
cuffed, and  a  persQji  leading  the  horse  upon  which  I 
rode.  The  horse  appeared  to  be  much  frightened  at 
the  appearance  of  things  in  the  city,  being  young 
and  skittish.  A  carriage  passing  by  jammed  against 
the  nag,  which  caused  him  to  break  from  the  man 
who  was  leading  him,  and  in  his  fright  throw  me  off 
backwards.  My  hands  being  confined  with  irons, 
and  my  feet  tied  under  the  horse  with  a  rope,  I  had 
no  power  to  help  myself.  I  fell  back  off  of  the  horse 
and  could  not  extricate  myself  from  this  dreadful 
condition  ;  the  horse  kicked  with  all  his  might  while 
I  was  tied  so  close  to  his  rump  that  he  could  only  M 
strike  me  with  his  legs  by  kicking. 

The  breath  was  kicked  out  of  my  body,  but  my 
bones  were  not  broken.  No  one  who  saw  my  situa- 
tion would  have  given  five  dollars  for  me.  It  was 
thought  by  all  that  I  w^as  dead  and  would  never 
come  to  life  again.     When  the  horse  was  caught  the 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  91 

cords  were  cut  from  my  limbs,  and  I  was  rubbed 
with  whiskey,  camphor.  Sec,  which  brought  me  to 
life  again. 

Many  bystanders  expressed  sympathy  for  me  in 
my  deplorable  condition,  and  contempt  for  the  tyrant 
Who  tied  mt  to  the  young  horse, 

I  was  then  driven  through  the  streets  of  the  city 
with  my  little  family  on  foot,  to  jail,  wherein  I  was 
locked  with  handcuffs  yet  on.  A  physician  was 
then  sent  for,  who  doctored  me  several  days  before 
I  was  well  enough  to  be  sold  in  market. 

The  jail  was  one  of  the  most  disagreeable  places 
I  ever  was  confined  in.  It  was  not  only  disagree- 
able on  account  of  the  filth  and  dirt  of  the  most  dis- 
agreeable kind ;  but  there  wer^  bed-bugs,  lleas,  lice 
and  musquitoes  in  abundance,  to  contend  with.  At 
night  we  had  to  lie  down  on  the  floor  in  this  filth. 
Our  food  was  very  scanty,  and  of  the  most  inferior 
quality.  No  gentleman's  dog  would  eat  what  wo 
were  compelled  to  eat  or  starve, 

I  had  not  been  in  this  prison  many  days  before 
Madison  Garrison,  the  soul  driver,  bought  me  and 
my  family  to  sell  again  in  the  New  Orleans  slave 
market.  He  was  buying  up  slaves  to  take  to  New 
Orleans.  So  he  took  me  and  my  little  family  to  tho 
work-house,  to  be  kept  under  lock  and  key  at  work 
until  he  had  bought  up  as  many  as  he  wished  to  take 
off  to  the  South. 

The  work-house  of  Louisville  was  a  ver}''  large 
brick  building,  built  on  the  plan  of  a  jail  or  State's 
prison,  with  many  apartments  to  it,  divided  off  into 
cella  wherein  pi'isoners  were  locked  up   after  night. 


02  NARRtVTIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

Tlie  upper  apartments  were  occupied  by  females, 
principally.  This  prison  was  enclosed  by  a  high 
stone  wall,  upon  which  stood  watchmen  with  loaded 
guns  to  guard  the  prisoners  from  brea.king  out,  and 
on  either  side  there  were  large  iron  gates. 

When  Garrison  conducted  me  with  my  family  to 
the  prison  in  which  we  were  to  be  confined  until  he 
was  ready  to  take  us  to  New  Orleans,  I  was  shock- 
ed at  the  horrid  sight  of  the  prisoners  on  entering 
the  yard.  When  the  large  iron  gate  or  door  was 
thrown  open  to  receive  us,  it  was  astonishing  to 
see  so  many  wl;^^s  as  ^jell  as  colored  men  loaded 
down  with  irons,  at  hard  labor,  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  overseers. 

Some  were  sawij^jl  stone,  some  cutting  stone,  and 
others  breaking  stone.  The  fiirst  impression  which 
was  made  on  my  mind  when  I  entered  this  place  of 
punishment,  made  me  think  of  hell,  with  all  its  ter- 
rors of  tonnent ;  such  as  "  weeping,  wailing,  and 
gnashing  of  teeth,"  which  was  then  the  idea  that  I 
had  of  the  infernal  regions  from  oral  instruction. 
And  I  doubt  whether  there  can  be  a  better  picture 
of  it  drawn,  than  maybe  sketched  from  an  American 
slave  prison. 

In  this  prison  almost  every  prisoner  had  a  heavy 
log  chain  riveted  about  his  leg.  It  would  indeed 
be  astonishing  to  a  christian  man  to  stand  in  that 
prison  one  half  hour  and  hear  and  see  the  contami- 
nating influence  of  Southern  slavery  on  the  body 
and  mind  of  man — you  may  there  find  almost  every 
variety  of  character  to  look  on.  Some  singing,  some 
crying,    some  praying,  and  others  swearing.     The 


NA.RRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  9^ 

people  of  color  who  were  in  there  were  slayes 
there  without  crime,  but  for  safe  keeping,  while  the 
whites  were  some  of  the  most  abandoned  characters 
living.  The  keeper  took  me  up  to  the  anvil  block 
and  fastened  a  chain  about  my  leg,  which  I  had  to 
drag  afier  me  both  day  and  night  during  three  months. 
My  labor  was  sawing  stone  ;  my  food  was  coarse 
corn  bread  and  beef  shanks  and  cows  heads  with 
pot  liquor,  and  a  very  scanty  allowance*  of  that. 

I  have  often  seen  the  meat  spoiled  whenbroughtto 
us,  covered  with  flies  and  flyblows,  and  even  worms 
crawling  over  it,  when  we'^^re  conipelled  to  eat  it, 
or  go  without  any  at  all.  It  was  all  spread  out  on 
a  long  table  in  separate  plates  ;^jid  at  the  sound  of 
a  bell,  every  one  would  take  T!fs  plate,  asking  no 
questions.  After  hastily  eating,  we  were  hurried 
back  to  our  work,  each  man  dragging  a  heavy  log 
chain  after  him  to  his  work. 

About  a  half  hour  before  night  they  were  com- 
ftianded  to  stop  work,  take  a  bite  to  eat,  and  then 
be  locked  up  in  a  small  cell  until  the  next  morning 
after  sunrise.  The  prisoners  were  locked  in,  two 
together:  My  bed  was  a  cold  stone  floor  with  but 
little  bedding  !  My  visitors  were  bed-bugs  andmus- 
quitoes. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


Chiiracter  of  my  prison  companions. — Jail  breaking  contemplat- 
ed.— Defeat  of  our  plan. — My  wife  and  child  removed.— Dis* 
graceful  proposal  to  her,  and  cruel  punishment. — Our  depart- 
ure in  a  cotlle  for  New  Orleans. — Events  of  our  journey. 

Most  of  the  inmates  Q^this  prison  I  have  describ- 
ed, were  white  men  wh6*had  been  sentenced  there  by 
the  law,  for  depredations  committed  by  them.  There 
was  in  that  priscMk  gamblers,  drunkards,  thieves, 
robbers,  adulterers,  and  even  murderers.  There 
were  also  in  the  female  department,  harlots,  pick- 
pockety  and  adulteresses.  In  such  companj',  and 
under  such  influences,  where  there  was  constant 
swearing,  lying,  cheating,  and  stealing,  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  a  virtuous  person  to  avoid  pollution, 
or  to  maintain  their  virtue.  No  place  or  places  in 
this  country  can  be  better  calculated  to  inculcate 
vice  of  every  kind  than  a  Southern  work  house  or 
house  of  correction. 

After  a  profligate,  thief,  or  a  robber,  has  learned 
all  that  they  can  out  of  the  prison,  they  might  go 
in  one  of  those  prisons  and  learn  somethhig  more — 
they  might  properly  be  called  robber  colleges ;  and 
if  slaveholders  understood  this  they  would  never 
let  their  slaves  enter  them.  No  man  would  give 
much  for  a  slave  who  had  been  kept  long  in  one  of 
these  prisons. 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  95 

I  have  often  heard  them  telling  each  other  how 
they  robbed  houses,  and  persons  on  the  high  way, 
by  knocking  them  down,  and  would  rob  them,  pick 
.their  pockets,  and  leave  them  half  dead.  Others 
would  tell  of  stealing  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and 
slaves  ;  and  when  they  would  be  sometimes  appre- 
hended, by  the  aid  of  their  friends,  they  would 
break  jail.  But  they  could  most  generally  find 
enough  to  swear  them  clear  of  any  kind  of  villany. 
They  seemed  to  take  great  delight  in  telling  of  their 
exploits  in  robbery.  There  was  a  regular  combina- 
tion of  them  who  had  determined  to  resist  law. 
wherever  they  went,  to  carry  out  their  purposes. 

In  conversing  with  myself,  they  learned  that  I 
was  notorious  for  running  away,  and  professed  sym- 
pathy for  me.  They  thought  that  I  might  yet  get 
to  Canada,  and  be  free,  and  suggested  a  plan  by 
which  I  might  accomplish  it ;  and  one  way  was,  to 
learn  to  read  and  write,  so  that  I  might  write  myself 
a  pass  ticket,  to  go  just  where  I  pleased,  when  I  was 
taken  out  of  the  prison  ;  and  they  taught  me  secretly 
all  they  could  while  in  the  prison. 

But  there  was  another  plan  which  they  suggested 
to  me  to  get  away  from  slavery  ;  that  was  to  break 
out  of  the  prison  and  leave  my  family.  I  consented 
to  engage  in  this  plot,  but  not  to  leave  my  family. 

By  my  conduct  in  the  prison,  after  having  been 
there  several  weeks,  I  had  gained  the  confidence  of 
the  keeper,  and  the  turnkey.  So  much  so,  that  when 
I  wanted  water  or  anything  of  the  kind,  they  would 
open  my  door  and  hand  it  in  to  me.  One  of  the 
turnkeys  was  an  old  colored  man,  who  swept  and 


96  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

cleaned  up  tlie  cells,  supplied  the  prisoners  with 
water,  &c. 

On  Sundays  in  the  afternoon,  the  watchmen  of 
the  prison  were  most  generally  off,  and  this  old 
slave,  whose  name  was  Stephen,  had  the  prisoners 
to  attend  to.  The  white  prisoners  formed  a  plot  to 
break  out  on  Sunday  in  the  afternoon,  by  making 
me  the  a<^-ent  to  get  the  prison  keys  from  old  Steplien. 

I  was  to  prepare  a  stone  that  would  weigh  about 
one  pound,  tie  it  up  in  a  rag,  and  keep  it  in  my 
pocket  to  strike  poor  old  Stephen  with,  when  he 
should  open  my  cell  door.  But  this  I  would  not 
consent  to  do,  without  he  should  undertake  to  betray 
me. 

I  gave  old  Stephen  one  shilling  to  buy  me  a  water 
melon,  which  he  was  to  bring  to  me  in  the  after- 
noon. All  the  prisoners  were  to  be  ready  to  strike, 
just  as  soon  as  I  opened  their  doors.  When  Ste- 
phen opened  my  door  to  hand  me  the  melon,  I  was 
to  grasp  him  by  the  collar,  raise  the  stone  over 
his  head,  and  say  to  him,  that  if  he  made  any 
alarm  that  I  should  knock  him  down  with  the  stone. 
But  if  he  would  be  quiet  he  should  not  be  hurt.  I 
was  then  to  take  all  the  keys  from  him,  and  lock 
him  up  in  the  cell — take  a  chisel  and  cut  the  chain 
from  my  own  leg,  then  unlock  all  the  cells  below, 
and  let  out  the  other  prisoners,  who  were  all  to  cut 
off  their  chains.  We  were  then  to  go  and  let  out 
old  Stephen,  and  make  him  go  off  with  us.  We 
were  to  form  a  line  and  mai'ch  to  the  front  gate  of 
the  prison  with  a  sledge  hammer,  and  break  it  open, 
and  if  we  should  be  discovered,  and  there  should  be 


:^, 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  97 

any  out-cry,  we  were  all  to  run  and  raise  the  alarm 
of  fire,  so  as  to  avoid  detection.  But  while  we  were 
all  listening  for  Stephen  to  open  the  door  with  tho 
melon,  he  came  and  reported  that  he  could  not  get 
one,  and  handed  me  back  the  money  through  the 
window.  All  were  disappointed,  and  nothing  done. 
I  looked  upon  it  as  being  a  fortunate  thing  for  me, 
for  it  was  certainly  a  very  dangerous  experiment 
for  a  slave,  and  they  could  never  get  me  to  consent 
to  be  the  leader  in  that  matter  again. 

A  few  days  after,  another  plot  was  concocted  to 
to  break  prison,  but  it  was  betrayed  by  one  of  the 
party,  which  resulted  in  the  most  cruel  punishment 
to  the  prisoners'  concerned  in  it ;  and  I  felt  thankful 
that  my  name  was  not  connected  with  it.  They 
were  not  only  flogged,  but  they  were  kept  on  bread 
and  water  alone,  for  many  days.  A  few  days  after 
we  were  put  in  this  prison,  Garrison  came  and  took 
my  wife  and  child  out,  I  knew  not  for  what  purpose, 
nor  to  what  place,  but  after  the  absence  of  several 
days  I  supposed  that  he  had  sold  them.  But  ono 
morning,  the  outside  door  was  thrown  open,  and 
Malinda  thrust  in  by  the  ruthless  hand  of  Garrison, 
whose  voice  was  pouring  forth  tlie  most  bitter  oaths 
and  abusive  language  that  could  be  dealt  out  to  a 
female  ;  while  her  heart-rending  shrieks  and  sobbing, 
was  truly  melting  to  the  soul  of  a  father  and  hus- 
band. 

The  language  of  Malinda  was,  "  Oh  !  my  dear 
little  child  is  gone  ?  What  shall  I  do  ?  my  child  is 
gone."  This  most  distressing  sound  struck  a  sym- 
pathetic chord  through  all   the   prison   among  tho 


98  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

prisoners.  I  was  not  permitted  to  go  to  my  wife  and 
inquire  what  had  become  of  little  Frances.  I  never 
expected  to  see  her  again,  for  I  supposed  that  she 
was  sold. 

That  night,  however,  I  had  a  short  interview  with 
my  much  abused  wife,  who  told  me  the  secret.  She 
said  that  Garrison  had  taken  her  to  a  private  house 
where  he  kept  female  slaves  for  the  baset  purposes. 
It  was  a  resort  for  slave  trading  profligates  and  soul 
drivers,  who  were  interested  in  the  same  business. 

Soon  after  she  ajrived  at  this  place,  Garrison 
gave  her  to  understand  what  he  brought  her  there 
for,  and  made  a  most  disgraceful  .assault  on  her 
virtue,  which  she  promptly  repeled  ;  and  for  which 
Garrison  punished  her  with  the  lash,  threatening 
her  that  if  she  did  not  submit  that  he  would  sell  her 
child.  The  next  day  he  made  the  same  attempt, 
which  she  resisted,  declaring  that  she  would  not 
submit  to  it ;  and  again  he  tied  her  up  and  flogged 
her  until  her  garments  were  stained  with  blood. 

He  then  sent  our  child  ofl*  to  another  part  of  the 
city,  and  said  he  meant  to  sell  it,  and  that  she  should 
never  see  it  again.  He  then  drove  Malinda  before 
him  to  the  work-liouse,  swearing  by  his  Maker  that 
she  should  submit  to  him  or  die.  I  have  already 
described  her  entrance  in  the  prison. 

Two  days  after  this  he  came  again  and  took  Ma- 
linda out  of  the  prison.  It  was  several  weeks  before 
I  saw  her  again,  and  learned  that  he  had  not  sold 
her  or  the  child.  At  the  same  time  he  was  buying 
up  other  slaves  to  take  to  New  Orleans.  At  the 
expiration  of  three  months  he   was  ready  to  start 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  99 

with  US  for  the  New  Orleans  slave  market,  but  we 
never  knew  when  we  were  to  go,  until  the  hour  had 
arrived  for  our  departure. 

One  Sabbath  morning  Garrison  entered  the  prison 
and  commanded  that  our  limbs  should  be  made  ready 
for  the  coffles.  They  called  us  up  to  an  anvill  block, 
and  the  heavy  log  chains  which  we  had  been  wear- 
ing on  our  legs  during  three  months,  were  cut  off, 
I  had  been  in  the  prison  over  three  months  ;  but  he 
had  other  slaves  who  had  not  been  there  so  long. 
The  hand-cuffs  wei-e  then  put  on  to  our  wrists.  We 
were  coupled  together  two  and  two — the  right  hand 
of  one  to  the  left  hand  of  another,  and  a  long  chain 
to  connect  us  together. 

The  other  prisoners  appeared  to  be  sorry  to  see 
us  start  off  in  this  way.  We  marched  off  to  the 
river  Ohio,  to  take  passage  on  board  of  the  steam- 
boat Water  Witch.  But  this  was  at  a  very  low 
time  of  water,  in  the  fall  of  1839.  The  boat  got 
aground,  and  did  not  get  off  that  night ;  and  Gar- 
rison had  to  watch  us  all  night  to  keep  any  from 
getting  away.  He  also  had  a  very  large  savage  dog, 
which  was  trained  up  to  catch  runaway  slaves. 

We  were  more  than  six  weeks  getting  to  the  city 
of  New  Orleans,  in  consequence  of  low  water.  We 
were  shifted  on  to  several  boats  before  we  arrived  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Ohio.  But  we  got  but  very 
little  rest  at  night.  As  all  were  chained  together 
night  and  day,  it  was  impossible  to  sleep,  being 
annoyed  by  the  bustle  and  crowd  of  the  passengers 
on  board  ;  by  the  terrible  thought  that  we  were  des- 
tined to  be    sold  in  market  as  sheep  or  oxen  ;  and 


100 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 


annoyed  by  the  galling  chains  that  cramped  our 
wearied  limbs,  on  the  tedious  voyage.  But  I  had 
several  opportunities  to  have  run  away  from  Gar- 
rison before  we  got  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river. 
While  they  were  shifting  us  from  one  boat  to  another 
my  hands  were  some  times  loosed,  until  they  got  ua 
all  on  board — and  I  know  that  I  should  have  broke 
away  had  it  not  been  for  the  sake  of  my  wife  and 
child  who  was  with  me.  I  could  see  no  chance  to 
get  them  off,  and  I  could  not  leave  them  in  that  con- 
dition— and  Garrison  v/as  not  so  much  ^aid  of  my 
running  ai way  from  hinv  while  he  heldojt'^o  my  family, 
for  he  knew  from  the  great  sacrilices  which  I  had 
made  to  rescue  them  from  slavery,  that  my  attach- 
ment was  too  strong  to  rim  off  and  leave  them  in  his 
hands,  while  there  was  the  least  hope  of  ever  getting 
them  away  with  me. 


CHAPTER   IX 


Our  arrival  and  examination  at  Vicksburg. — An  account  of  slave 
sales. — Cruel  punishment  with  the  paddle. — Attempts  to  sell 
myself  by  Garrison's  direction. — Amusing  interview  with  a 
slave  buyer. — Deacon  Whitfield's  examination. — He  purchases 
the  famUy. — Character  of  the  Deacon. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  city  of  Vicksburg,  he  in- 
tended to  sell  a  portion  of  his  slaves  there,  and 
stopped  for  three  weeks  trying  to  sell.  But  he  met 
with  very  poor  success. 

We  had  there  to  pass  through  an  examination  or 
inspection  by  a  city  officer,  whose  business  it  was 
to  inspect  slave  property  that  was  brought  to  that 
market  for  sale.  He  examined  our  backs  to  see  if 
we  had  been  much  scarred  by  the  lash.  He  exam- 
ined our  limbs,  to  see  whether  we  were  inferior.- 

As  it  is  hard  to  tell  the  ages  of  slaves,  they  look 
In  their  mouths  at  their  teeth,  and  prick  up  the  skin 
on  the  back  of  their  hands,  and  if  the  person  is  very 
far  advanced  in  life,  when  ths  skin  is  pricked  up,  the 
pucker  will  stand  so  many  seconds  on  the  back  of 
the  hand. 

But  the  most  rigorous  examinations  of  slaves  by 
those  slave  inspectors,  is  on  the  mental  capacity. 
If  they  are  found  to  be  very  intelligent,  this  is  pro- 
nounced the  most  objectionable  of  aH^ other  quali- 
ties connected  with  the  life  of  a  slave      In   "act,  it 


102  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

undermines  the  whole  fabric  of  his  chattelhood  ;  it 
prepares  for  what  slaveholders  are  pleased  to  pro- 
nounce the  unpardonable  sin  when  committed  by  a 
slave.  It  lays  the  foundation  for  running  away, 
and  going  to  Canada.  They  also  see  in  it  a  love 
for  freedom,  patriotism,  insurrection,  bloodshed,  and 
exterminating  war  against  American  slavery. 

Hence  they  are  very  careful  to  inquire  whether  a 
slave  who  is  for  sale  can  read  or  write.  This  ques- 
tion has  been  asked  me  often  by  slave  traders,  and 
cotton  planters,  while  I  was  there  for  market.  Af- 
ter conversing  with  me,  they  have  sworn  by  their 
Maker,  that  they  would  not  have  me  among  their 
negroes  ;  and  that  they  saw  the  devil  in  my  eye  ;  I 
•would  run  away,  &c. 

I  have  frequently  been  asked  also,  if  I  had  ever 
run  away  ;  but  Garrison  would  generally  answer 
this  question  for  me  in  the  negative.  He  could 
have  sold  my  little  family  without  any  trouble,  for 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars.  But  for  fear  he 
might  not  get  me  off  at  so  great  an  advantage,  as 
the  people  did  not  like  my  appearance,  he  could  do 
better  by  selling  us  all  together.  They  all  wanted 
my  wife,  while  but  very  few  wanted  me.  He  asked 
for  me  and  my  family  twenty-five  hundred  dollars, 
but  was  not  able  to  get  us  off  at  that  price. 

He  tried  to  speculate  on  my  Christian  character. 
He  tried  to  make  it  appear  that  I  was  so  pious  and 
honest  that  I  would  not  runaway  for  ill  treatment ; 
which  was  a  gross  mistake,  for  I  never  had  religion 
enough  to  keep  me  from  running  away  from  slavery 
in  my  life. 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  103 

But  we  were  ta.ken  from  Vicksburgh,  to  the  city 
of  New  Orleans,  were  we  w^ere  to  be  sold  at  any 
rate.  We  were  taken  to  a  trader's  3-ard  or  a  slave 
prison  on  the  corner  of  St.  Joseph  street.  This 
was  a  common  resort  for  slave  traders,  and  plant 
ers  who  wanted  to  buy  slaves ;  and  all  classes 
of  slaves  were  kept  there  for  sale,  to  be  sold  in  pri 
vate  or  public — young  or  old,  males  or  females,  chil- 
dren or  parents,  husbands  or  wives. 

Every  day  at  10  o'clock  they  were  exposed  for 
sale.  They  had  to  be  in  trim  for  showing  them- 
selves to  the  public  for  sale.  Every  one's  head 
had  to  be  combed,  and  their  faces  washed,  and  those 
who  were  inclined  to  look  dark  and  rough,  were  com- 
pelled to  wash  in  greasy  dish  water,  in  order  to 
make  them  look  slick  and  lively. 

When  spectators  would  come  in  the  yard,  the 
slaves  were  ordered  out  to  form  a  line.  They  were 
made  to  stand  up  straight,  and  look  as  sprightly  as 
they  could ;  and  when  they  were  asked  a  question, 
they  had  to  answer  it  as  promptly  as  they  could, 
and  try  to  induce  the  spectators  to  buy  them.  If 
they  failed  to  do  this,  they  were  severely  paddled 
after  the  spectators  were  gone.  The  object  for 
using  the  paddle  in  the  place  of  a  lash  was,  to  con- 
ceal the  marks  which  would  be  made  by  the  flogging. 
And  the  object  for  flogging  under  such  circumstances, 
is  to  make  the  slaves  anxious  to  be  sold. 

The  paddle  is  made  of  a  piece  of  hickory  timber, 
about  one  inch  thick,  three  inches  in  width,  and 
about  eighteen  inches  in  length.  The  part  which 
is  applied  to  the  flesh  is  bored  full  of  quarter  inch 


,,.-j^^  ^ii..;  -^^ 


m: 


mm 

m 


I 


NARRATIVE    OFHENRY    BTBB.  105 

auger  holes,  and  every  time  this  is  applied  to  the 
flesh  of  the  victim,  the  blood  gushes  through  the 
holes  of  the  pa,ddle,  or  a  blister  makes  its  appear- 
ance. The  persons  who  are  thus  flogged,  are  always 
stripped  naked,  and  their  hands  tied  together.  They 
are  then  bent  over  double,  their  knees  are  forced  be- 
tween their  elbows,  and  a  stick  is  put  through  be- 
tween the  elbows  and  the  bend  of  the  legs,  in  order 
to  hold  the  victim  in  that  position,  while  the  paddle 
is  applied  to  those  parts  of  the  body  which  would 
not  be  so  likely  to  be  seen  by  those  who  wanted  to 
buy  slaves.   (See  on  page  133.) 

'  I  was  kept  in  this  prison  for  several  months,  and 
no  one  would  buy  me  for  fear  I  would  run  away. 
One  day  while  I  v/as  in  this  prison,  Garrison  got 
mad  with  my  wife,  and  took  her  ofl^  in  one  of  the 
rooms,  with  his  paddle  in  hand,  swearing  that  he 
would  paddle  her  ;  and  I  could  afford  her  no  protec- 
tion at  all,  while  the  strong  arm  of  the  law,  public 
opinion  and  custom,  were  all  against  me.  I  have 
often  heard  Garrison  say,  that  he  had  rather  paddle 
a  female,  than  eat  when  he  was  hungry — that  it  was 
music  for  him  to  hear  them  scream,  and  too  see  their 
blood  run. 

After  the  lapse  of  several  months,  he  found  that 
he  could  not  dispose  of  my  person  to  a  good  advan- 
tage, while  he  kept  me  in  that  prison  confined  among 
the  other  slaves.  I  do  not  speak  with  vanity  when 
I  say  the  contrast  was  so  great  between  myself  and 
ordinary  slaves,  from  the  fact  that  I  had  enjoyed 
superior   advantages,    to    which  I  have    already  re- 


106  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

ferred.  They  have  their  slaves  classed  off  and 
numbered. 

Garrison  came  to  me  one  day  and  informed  me 
that  I  might  go  out  through  the  city  and  find 
myself  a  master.  I  was  to  go  to  the  Hotels, 
boarding  houses,  &c. — tell  them  that  my  wife  was 
a  good  cook,  wash-woman,  &c., — and  that  I  was 
a  good  dining  room  servant,  carriage  driver,  or  por- 
ter— and  in  this  way  I  might  find  some  gentleman 
who  would  buy  us  both ;  and  that  this  was  the  only 
hope  of  our  being  sold  together. 

But  before  starting  me  out,  he  dressed  me  up  in  a 
suit  of  his  old  clothes,  so  as  to  make  me  look  re- 
spectable, and  I  was  so  much  better  dressed  than 
usual  that  I  felt  quite  gay.  He  would  not  allow  my 
wife  to  go  out  with  me  however,  for  fear  we  might 
get  away.  I  was  out  every  day  for  several  weeks, 
three  or  four  hours  in  each  day,  trying  to  find  a  new 
master,  but  without  success.  • 

Many  of  the  old  French  inhabitants  have  taken 
slaves  for  their  wives,  in  this  city,  and  tlieir  own 
children  for  their  servants.  Such  commonly  are 
called  Creoles.  They  are  better  treated  than  other 
slaves,  and  I  resembled  this  class  in  appearance  so 
much  that  the  French  did  not  v/ant  me.  JMany  of 
them  set  their  mulatto  ohildren  free,  and  make  slave- 
holders of  them. 

At  length  one  day  I  heard  that  there  was  a  gen- 
tleman in  t^^'  city  from  the  State  of  Tennessee,  to 
buy  slaves.  He  hid  brought  down  two  rafts  of  lum- 
ber for  market,  and  I  thought  if  I  could  get  him  to 
buy  me  with  my  family.  ai;d  take  us  to  Tennessee, 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  107 

from  there,  I  would  stand  a  better  opportunity  to 
run  SLW3.J  again  and  get  to  Canada,  than  I  would 
from  the  extreme  South. 

So  I  brushed  up  myself  and  walked  down  to  the 
river's  bank,  where  the  man  was  pointed  out  to  me 
standing  on  board  of  his  raft,  I  approached  him,  and 
after  passing  the  usual  compliments  I  said : 

"  Sir,  I  understand  that  you  wish  to  purchase  a 
Wjt  of  servants  and  I  have  called  to  know  if  it  is 
o." 

He  smiled  and  appeared  to  be  much  pleased  at  my 
visit  on  such  laudable  business,  supposing  me  to  be 
«,  slave  trader.  He  commenced  rubbing  his  hands 
together^  and  replied  by  sajdng :  "  Yes  sir,  I  am 
glad  to  see  you.  It  is  a  part  of  my  business  here  to 
buy  slaves,  and  if  I  could  get  you  to  take  my  lumber 
m  part  pay  I  should  like  to  buy  four  or  five  of  your 
slaves  at  any  rate.  What  kind  of  slaves  have  you, 
sir  ?" 

After  I  found  that  he  took  me  to  be  a  slave  trader 
I  knew  that  it  would  be  of  no  use  for  me  to  tell  him 
that  I  was  myself  a  slave  looking  for  a  master,  for 
he  would  have  doubtless  brought  up  the  same  ob- 
jection that  others  had  brought  up, — that  I  was  too 
white  ;  and  that  they  were  afraid  that  I  could  read 
and  write ;  and  would  never  serve  as  a  slave,  but 
run  away.  My  reply  to  the  question  respecting  the 
quality  of  my  slaves  was,  that  I  did  not  think  his 
lumber  would  suit  me-— that  I  must  have  the  cash 
for  my  negroes,  and  turned  on  my  heel  and  left 
him  ! 

I  returned  to  the  prison  and  informed  my  wife  of 


08  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

the  fact  that  I  had  been  taken  to  be  a  slaveholder. 
She  thought  that  in  addition  to  my  light  complexion 
my  being  dressed  up  in  Garrison's  old  slave  trading 
clothes  might  have  caused  the  man  to  think  that  I 
was  a  slave  trader,  and  she  was  afraid  that  we  should 
yet  be  separated  if  I  should  not  succeed  in  finding 
some  body  to  buy  us. 

Every  day  to  us  was  a  day  of  trouble,  and  every 
night  brought  new  and  fearful  apprehensions  that 
the  golden  link  which  binds  together  husband  and 
wife  might  be  broken  by  the  heartless  tyrant  before 
the  light  of  another  day. 

Deep  has  been  the  anguish  of  my  soul  when  look- 
ing over  my  little  family  during  the  silent  hours  of 
the  night,  knowing  the  great  danger  of  our  being 
sold  off  at  auction  the  next  day  and  parted  forever. 
That  this  might  not  come  to  pass,  many  have  been 
the  tears  and  prayers  which  I  have  offered  up  to  the 
God  oT  Israel  that  we  might  be  preserved. 

While  waiting  here  to  be  disposed  of,  I  heard  of 
one  Francis  Whitfield,  a  cotton  planter,  who  want- 
ed to  buy   slaves.       He   was  represented  to  be  a 
very  pious  soul,  being  a  deacon  of  a  Baptist  church. 
As  the  regulations,  as  v/ell  as  public  opinion  gener- 
ally, were  against  slaves  meeting  for  religious  wor 
ship,  I  thought  it  would  give  me  a  better  opportuni 
ty  to  attend  to  my  religious  duties  should  I  fall  into 
the  hands  of  this  deacon. 

So  I  called  on  him  and  tried  to  show  to  the  best 
advantage,  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  him  to  buy 
me  and  my  family.  When  I  approached  him,  I  felt 
much  pleased  at  his  external  appearance — I  address- 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  109 

ed  him  in  the  following  words  as  well  as  I  can  re- 
member : 

"  Sir,  I  understand  you  are  desirous  of  purchas- 
ing slaves  ?" 

With  a  very  pleasant  smile,  he  replied,  "  Yes,  I 
do  want  to  buy  some,  are  you  for  sale  ?" 

"  Yes  sir,  with  my  wife  and  one  child." 

Garrison  had  given  me  a  note  to  show  wherever 
I  went,  that  I  was  for  sale,  speaking  of  my  wife 
and  child,  giving  us  a  very  good  character  of  course 
— and  I  handed  him  the  note. 

After  reading  it  over  he  remarked,  "  I  have  a  few 
questions  to  ask  you,  and  if  you  will  tell  me  the 
truth  like  a  good  boy,  perhaps  I  may  buy  you  with 
your  family.  In  the  first  place,  my  boy,  you  are  a 
little  too  near  white.  I  want  you  to  tell  me  now 
whether  you  can  read  or  write  ?" 

My  reply  was  in  the  negative. 

*'  Now  I  want  you  to  tell  me  whether  you  have 
run  away  ?  Don't  tell  me  no  stories  now,  like  a 
good  fellow,  and  perhaps  I  may  buy  you." 

But  as  I  was  not  under  oath  to  tell  him  the  whole 
truth,  I  only  gave  him  a  part  of  it,  by  telling  him 
that  I  had  run  away  once. 

He  appeared  to  be  pleased  at  that,  but  cautioned 
me  to  tell  him  the  truth,  and  asked  me  how  long  I 
stayed  away,  when  I  run  off  ? 

I  told  him  that  I  was  gone  a  month. 

He  assented  to  this  by  a  bow  of  his  head,  and 
making  a  long  grunt  saying,  "  That's  right,  tell  me 
the  truth  like  a  good  boy." 

The  whole  truth  was  that  I  had  been  off  in  the 


110  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

state  of  Ohio,  and  other  free  states,  and  even  to 
Canada ;  besides  this  I  was  notorious  for  running 
away,  from  my  boyhood. 

I  never  told  him  that  I  had  been  a  runaway  longer 
than  one  month — neither  did  I  tell  him  that  I  had 
not  run  away  more  than  once  in  my  life ;  for  these 
questions  he  never  asked  me. 

I  afterwards  found  him  to  be  one  of  the  basest 
hypocrites  that  I  ever  saw.  He  looked  like  a  saint 
— talked  like  the  best  of  slave  holding  Christians, 
and  acted  at  home  like  the  devil. 

When  he  saw  my  wife  and  child,  he  concluded  to 
buy  us.  He  paid  for  me  twelve  hundred  dollars, 
and  one  thousand  for  my  wife  and  child.  He  also 
bought  several  other  slaves  at  the  same  time,  and 
took  home  with  him.  His  residence  was  in  the  par- 
ish of  Claiborn,  fifty  miles  up  from  the  mouth  of 
Eed  River. 

When  we  arrived  there,  we  found  his  slaves  poor, 
ragged,  stupid,  and  half-starved.  The  food  he  allow- 
ed them  per  week,  was  one  peck  of  corn  for  each 
grown  person,  one  pound  of  pork,  and  sometimes  a 
quart  of  molasses.  This  was  all  that  they  were  al- 
lowed, and  if  they  got  more  they  stole  it. 

He  had  one  of  the  most  cruel  overseers  to  be 
found  in  that  section  of  country.  He  weighed  and 
measured  out  to  them,  their  week's  allowance  of 
food  every  Sabbath  morning.  The  overseer's  horn 
was  sounded  two  hours  before  daylight  for  them  in 
the  morning,  in  order  that  they  should  be  ready  for 
work  before  daylight.  They  were  worked  from  day- 
light until  after  dark,  without  stopping  but  one  half 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 


Ill 


hour  to  eat  or  rest,  which  was  at  noon.  And  at  the " 
busy  season  of  the  year,  they  were  compelled  to 
work  just  as  hard  on  the  Sabbath,  as  on  any  other 
day. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Cruel  treatment  on  Whitfield's  farm — Exposure  of  the  children 
— Mode' of  extorting  extra  labor — Neglect  of  the  sick — 
Strange  medicine  used — Death  of  our  second  child. 

My  first  impressions  when  I  arrived  on  the  Dea- 
con's farm,  were  that  he  was  far  more  like  what  the 
people  call  the  devil,  than  he  was  like  a  deacon. 
Not  many  days  after  my  arrival  there,  I  heard  the 
Deacon  tell  one-ofthe  slave  girls,  that  he  had  bought 
her  for  a  wife  .br  his  boy  Stephen,  which  office  he 
compelled  her  fully  to  perform  against  her  will. 
This  he  enforced  by  a  threat.  At  lirst  the  poor 
girl  neglected  to  do  this,  having  no  sort  of  affection 
for  the  man — but  she  was  finally  forced  to  it  by  an 
application  of  the  driver's  lash,  as  threatened  by  the 
Deacon. 

The  next  thing  I  observed  was  that  he  made  the 
slave  driver  strip  his  own  wife,  and  flog  her  for  not 
doing  just  as  her  master  had  ordered.  He  had  a 
white  overseer,  and  a  colored  man  for  a  driver, 
whose  business  it  was  to  watch  and  drive  the  slaves 
in  the  field,  and  do  the  flogging  according  to  the  or- 
ders of  the  overseer. 

Next  a  mulatto  girl  who  waited  about  the  house, 
on  her  mistress,  displeased  her,  for  which  the  Dea- 
con stripped  and  tied  her  up.  He  then  handed  me 
the  lash   and  ordered  me  to  put  it  on — but  1  told 


■.^  JL  -LAW,  ^     .-.^  aone  the  like,  and  hoped  he  Wuu-.. 
^t  compel  me  to  do  it.     He  then  informed  me  that 
was  to  be  Jiis  overseer,  and  that  he  had  bought  me 
or  that  purpose.     He  was  paying  a  man  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  a  year  to  oversee,  an'd  he  believed  I  was 
competent  to  do  the  same  business,  and  if  I  would 
do  it  up  right  he  would  put  nothing  harder  on  me 
to  do  ;  and  if  J   knew  not  how  to  flog  a  slave,  he 
would  set  me  an  example  by  which  I  might  be  gov- 
erned.    He  then  commenced  on  this  poor  girl,  and 
gave   her  two   hundred  lashes   before    he  had  her 
untied. 


After  giving  her  fifty  lashes,  he  stopped  and  lec- 
tured her  a  while,  asking  her  if  she  thought  that 
she*could  obey  her  mistress,  &c.  She  promised  to 
do  all  in  her  power  to  please  him  and  hor  mistress, 
if  he  would  have  mercy  on  her.  But  this  plea  was 
all  vain.  He  commenced  on  her  again ;  and  this 
flogging  was  carried  on  in  t'b'^>  most  inhuman  manner 
until  she  had  received  twf^  .hundred  stripes  on  her 
naked   quivering  flesh,   tieo  up  and  exposed  to  the 


114  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

public  gaze  of  all.     And  this  was  the  example  that 
I  was  to  copy  after. 

He  then  compelled  me  to  wash  her  back  off  with 
strong  salt  brine,  before  she  was  untied,  which  was 
so  revolting  to  my  feelings,  that  I  could  not  refrain 
from  shedding  tears. 

For  some  cause  he  never  called  on  me  again  to 
flog  a  slave.  I  presume  he  saw  that  I  was  not 
savage  enough.  The  above  were  about  the  flrs^.  items 
of  the  Deacon's  conduct  which  struck  me  with  pecu- 
liar disgust. 

After  having  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty  for  a  season,  to  be  dragged  into 
that  horrible  place  with  my  family,  to  linger  out 
my  existence  without  the  aid  of  religious  societies, 
or  the  light  of  revelation,  was  more  than  I  could 
endure.  I  really  felt  as  if  I  had  got  into  one  of  the 
darkest  corners  of  the  earth.  I  thought  I  was 
almost  out  of  humanity's  reach,  and  should  never 
again  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  the  gospel  sound, 
as  I  could  see  no  way  by  which  I  could  extricate 
myself;  yet  I  never  omitted  to  pray  for  deliver 
ance.  I  had  faith  to  believe  that  the  Lord  could 
see  our  wrongs  and  hear  our  cries. 

I  was  not  used  quite  as  bad  as  the  regular  field 
hands,  as  the  greater  part  of  my  time  was  spent 
working  about  the  house ;  and  my  wife  was  the 
cook. 

This  country  was  full  of  pine  timber,  and  every 
slave  had  to  prepare  a  light  wood  torch,  over  night, 
made  of  pine  knots,  to  meet  the  overseer  with,  be- 
fore daylight  in  the  morning.     Each  person  had  to 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 


115 


h\x^e.  his  tcrch  lit,  and  come  with  it  in  his  hanrl 
to  iYe  gin  house,  before  the  overseer  and  driver,  so 
as  t(j  le  ready  to  ^o  to  the  cotton  tidd  by  the  time 
they  ^ould  see  to  pick  oiit  cotton.  These  lights 
looketJ  ieautiful  at  a  distance. 

The  object  of  blowing  the  horn  for  them  two 
hours  before  day,  was,  that  they  should  get  theirbite 
to  eat,  belore  they  went  to  the  field,  that  they  need 
not  stop  to  eat  but  once  during  the  day.  Another 
object  was,  to  do  up  their  flogging  which  had  been 
omitted  over  night.  I  have  often  heard  the  sound 
of  the  slave  driver's  lash  on  the  backs,  of  the  slaves, 
and  their  heart-rending  shrieks,  v/hich  were  enough 
to  melt  the  heart  of  humanity,  even  among  the  most 
barbarous  nations  of  the  earth. 

But  the  Deacon  would  keep  no  overseer  on  his 
plantation,  who  neglected  to  perform  this  every 
morning.  I  have  heard  him  say  that  he  was  no 
better  pleased  than  when  he  could  hear  the  over- 
seer's loud  complaining  voice,  long  before  daylight 
in  the  morning,  and  the  sound  of  the  driver's  lash 
among  the  toiling  slaves. 


1.16  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

This  was  a  very  warm  climate,  abounding  with 
musquitoes,  galinippers  and  other  insects  which  were 
exceedingly  annoying  to  the  poor  slaves  by  night  and 
day,  at  their  quarters  and  in  the  field.  But  more 
especially  to  their  helpless  little  children,  which 
they  had  to  carry  with  them  to  the  cotton  fields, 
where  they  had  to  set  on  the  damp  ground  alone 
from  morning  till  night,  exposed  to  the  scorching 
rays  of  the  sun,  liable  to  be  bitten  by  poisonous 
rBittle  snakes  which  are  plenty  in  that  section  of  the 
count I'y,  or  to  be  devoured  by  large  alligators, 
which  are  often  seen  creeping  through  the  cotton 
fields  going  from  swamp  to  swamp  seeking  their 
prey. 

The  cotton  planters  generally,  never  allow  a 
slave  mother  time  to  go  to  the  house,  or  quarter 
during  the  day  to  nurse  her  child  ;  hence  they  have 
to  carry  them  to  the  cotton  fields  and  tie  them  in 
the  shade  of  a  tree,  or  in  clusters  of  high  weeds 
about  in  the  fields,  where  they  can  go  to  them  at 
noon,  when  they  are  allowed  to  stop  work  for  one 
half  hour.  This  is  the  reason  why  so  very  few 
slave  children  are  raised  on  these  cotton  plantations, 
the  mothers  have  no  time  to  take  care  of  them — and 
they  are  often  found  dead  in  the  field  and  in  the 
quarter  for  want  of  the  care  of  their  mothers.  But 
I  never  was  eye  witness  to  a  case  of  this  kind,  but 
have  heard  many  narrated  by  my  slave  brothers  and 
sisters,  some  of  which  occurred  on  the  deacon's 
plantation. 

Their  plan  of  getting  large  quantities  of  cotton 
picked  is  not    only  to   extort  it  from  them  by  th« 


NARRATIVE    OP    HENR¥-    BIBB.  Ij7 

lasli,  but  hold  out  an  inducement  and  deceive  them 
by  giving  small  prizes.  For  example  ;  the  overseer 
will  offer  something  worth  one  or  two  dollars  to 
any  slave  who  will  pick  out  the  most  cotton  in  one 
day  ;  dividing  the  hands  off  in  three  classes  a,nd  offer- 
ing a  prize  to  the  one  who  will  pick  out  the  most 
cotton  in  each  of  the  classes.  By  this  means  they 
are  all  interested  in  trying  to  get  the  prize. 

After  making  them  try  it  over  several  times  and 
weighing  what  cotton  they  pick  every  night,  the 
overseer  can  tell  just  how  much  every  hand  can 
pick.  He  then  gives  the  present  to  those  that  pick 
the  most  cotton,  and  then  if  they  do  not  pick  just 
as  much  afterward  they  are  flogged. 

I  have  known  the  slaves  to  be  so  much  fatigued 
from  labor  that  they  could  scarcely  get  to  their 
lodging  places  from  the  field  at  night.  And  then 
they  would  have  to  prepare  something  to  eat  before 
they  could  lie  down  to  rest.  Their  corn  they  had 
to  grind  on  a  hand  mill  for  bread  stuff,  or  pound  it 
in  a  mortar  ;  and  by  the  time  they  would  get  their 
suppers  it  would  be  midnight;  then  they  would 
herd  down  all  together  and  take  but  two  or  three 
hours  rest,  before  the  overseer's  horn  called  them 
up  again  to  prepare  for  the  field. 

At  the  time  of  sickness  among  slaves  they  had 
but  very  little  attention.  The  master  was  to  be  the 
judge  of  their  sickness,  but  never  had  studied  the 
medical  profession.  He  always  pronounced  a 
slave  who  said  he  was  sick,  a  liar  and  a  hypocrite  ; 
said  there  was  nothing  the  matter,  and  he  only 
wanted  to  keep  from  work. 


118  NARRA"^IVE    OP   HENRY    BIBB. 

His  remedy  was  most  generally  strong  red  pepper 
tea,  boiled  till  it  was  red.  He  would  make  thora 
drink  a  pint  cup  full  of  it  at  one  dose.  If  he  should 
not  get  better  very  soon  after  it,  the  dose  was  re- 
peated. If  that  should  not  accomplish  the  object 
for  which  it  was  given,  or  have  the  desired  effect, 
a  pot  or  kettle  was  then  put  over  the  fire  with  a 
large  quantity  of  chimney  soot,  which  was  boiled 
down  until  it  was  as  strong  as  the  juice  of  tobacco, 
and  the  poor  sick  slave  was  compelled  to  drink  a 
quart  of  it. 

This  would  operate  on  the  system  like  salts,  or 
castor  oil.  But  if  the  slave  should  not  be  very  ill, 
he  would  rather  work  as  long  as  he  could  stand  up, 
than  to  take  this  dreadful  medicine. 

If  it  should  be  a  very  valuable  slave,  sometimes  a 
physician  was  sent  for  and  something  done  to  save 
him.  But  no  special  aid  is  afforded  the  suffering 
slave  even  in  the  last  trying  hour,  when  he  is  called 
to  grapple  with  the  grim  monster  death.  He  has 
no  Bible,  no  family  altar,  no  minister  to  addresa  to 
him  the  consolations  of  the  gospel,  before  he  launch- 
es into  the  spirit  world.  As  to  the  burial  of  slaves, 
but  very  littlemore  care  is  taken  of  their  dead  bodies 
than  if  they  were  dumb  beasts. 

My  wife  was  very  sick  while  v/e  were  both  living 
with  the  Deacon.  We  expected  everyday  would  be 
her  last.  While  she  was  sick,  we  lost  our  second 
child,  and  I  was  compelled  to  dig  my  own  child's 
grave  and  bury  it  myself  without  even  a  box  to  put 
it  in. 


CHAPTER  XI 


1  attend  a  prayer  meeting. — Funisliment  therefor  threatened. 
— I  attempt  to  escape  alone. — My  return  to  take  my  family. 
— Our  sufferings. — Dreadful  attack  of  wolves. — Our  recap- 
ture. 

Some  months  after  Malinda  had  recovered  from 
her  sickness,  I  got  permission  from  the  Deacon,  on 
one  Sabbath  day,  to  attend  a  prayer  meeting,  on  a 
neighboring  plantation,  with  a  few  old  superanuated 
slaves,  although  this  was  contrary  to  the  custom  of 
the  country — for  slaves  were  not  allowed  to  assem- 
ble for  religious  worship.  Being  more  numerous 
than  the  whites  there  was  fear  of  rebellion,  and  the 
overpowering  of  their  oppressors  in  order  to  obtain 
freedom. 

But  this  gentleman  on  whose  plantation  I  attend- 
ed the  meeting  was  not  a  Deacon  nor  a  professor  of 
religion.  He  was  not  afraid  of  a  few  old  Chris- 
tian slaves  rising  up  to  kill  their  master  because  he 
allowed  them  to  worship  God  on  the  Sabbath  da}'. 

We  had  a  very  good  meeting,  although  our  exer- 
cises were  not  conducted  in  accordance  with  an  en- 
lightened Christianity  ;  for  we  had  no  Bible — no  in" 
telligent  leader — but  a  conscience,  prompted  by  our 
own    reason,    constrained   us  to   worship    God   the 


Creatoi-  of  all  tlungs. 


When  I  roturned  home  from   meeting  I  told   the 


120  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

other  slaves  what  a  good  time  we  had  at  our  meef  • 
ing,  and  requested  them  to  go  with  me  to  meeting 
there  on  the  next  Sabbath.  As  no  slave  was  allowed 
to  go  from  the  plantation  on  a  visit  without  a  writ- 
ten pass  from  his  master,  on  the  next '  Sabbath 
several  of  us  went  to  the  Deacon,  to  get  permission 
to  attend  that  prayer  meeting  ;  but  he  refused  to  let 
any  go.  I  thought  I  would  slip  oif  and  attend  the 
meeting  and  get  back  before  he  would  miss  me,  and 
would  not  know  that  I  had  been  to  the  meeting. 

When  I  returned  home  from  the  meeting  as  I  ap- 
proached the  house  I  saw  Malinda,  standing  out  at 
the  fence  looking  in  the  direction  in  which  I  was  ex- 
pected to  return.  She  hailed  my  approa,ch,  not  with 
joy,  but  with  grief.  She  was  weeping  under  great 
distress  of  mind,  btit  it  was  hard  forme  to  extort 
from  her  the  reason  why  she  v/ept.  She  finally  in- 
formed me  that  her  master  had  found  out  that  I  had 
violated  his  law,  and  I  should  suffer  the  penalty, 
which  was  five  hundred  lashes,  on  my  naked  back. 

I  asked  her  how  he  knew  that  I  had  gone  ? 

She  said  I  had  not  long  been  gone  before  he  called 
for  me  and  I  was  not  to  be  found.  He  then  sent  the 
overseer  on  horseback  to  the  place  where  we  were 
to  meet  to  see  if  I  was  there.  But  when  the  over- 
seer got  to  the  place,  the  meeting  was  over  and  I 
had  gone  back  home,  but  had  gone  a  nearer  route 
through  the  woods  and  the  overseer  happened  not 
to  meet  me.  He  heard  that  I  had  been  there  and 
hurried  back  home  before  me  and  told  the  Deacon, 
who  ordered  him  to  take  me  on  the  next  morning, 
strip  off  my  clothes,  drive  down  four  stakes  in  th© 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  121 

ground  and  fasten  my  limbs  to  them ;  then  strik® 
me  five  hundred  lashes  for  going  to  the  i^rayer  meet- 
ing. This  was  what  distressed  my  poor  companion. 
She  thought  it  was  more  than  I  could  bear,  and  that 
it  would  be  the  death  of  me.  I  concluded  then  to 
run  away — but  she  thought  they  would  catch  me 
with  the  blood  hounds  by  their  taking  my  track. 
But  to  avoid  them  I  thought  I  would  ride  off  on  one 
of  the  Deacon's  mules.  She  thought  if  I  did,  they 
would  sell  me. 

"  No  matter,  I  will  try  it,"  said  I,  "  let  the  con- 
sequences be  what  they  may.  The  matter  can  be 
no  worse  than  it  now  is.-'  So  I  tackled  up  the 
Deacon's  best  mule  with  his  saddle,  &c.,  and  start- 
ed that  night  and  went  off  eight  or  ten  miles  from 
hom&.  But  I  found  the  mule  to  be  rather  trouble- 
some, and  was  like  to  betray  me  by  braying,  especially 
when  he  would  see  cattle-,  horses,  or  any  thing  of  the 
kind  in  the  woods. 

The  second  night  from  home  I  camped  in  a  cane 
break  down  in  the  Red  river  swamp  not  a  great 
way  off  from  the  road,  perhaps  not  twenty  rods,  ex- 
posed to  wild  ferocious  beasts  which  v/ere  numer- 
ous in  that  section  of  country.  On  that  night  about 
the  middle  of  the  night  .the  mule  heard  the  sound 
of  horses  feet  on  the  road,  and  he  commenced  stamp- 
ing and  trying  to  break  away.  As  the  horses 
seeaated  to  come  nearer,  the  mule  commenced,  trying 
to  bray,  and  it  was  all  that  I  could  do  to  prevent 
him  from  making  a  loud  bray  there  in  the  woods, 
which  would  have  betrayed  me.  ^ 

I  supposed  that  it  was  the  overseer  out  with  the 


122  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

dogs  looking  for  me,  and  I  found  afterwards  that  I 
was  not  mistaken.  As  soon  as  the  people  had  passed 
by,  1  mounted  the  mule  and  took  him  home  to  pre- 
vent his  betraying  me.  When  I  got  near  by  homo 
I  stripped  off  the  tackling  and  turned  the  mule  loose. 
I  then  slipt  up  to  the  cabin  wherein  my  wife  laid 
and  found  her  awake,  much  distressed  about  me. 
She  informed  me  that  they  were  then  out  looking 
for  me,  and  that  the  Deacon  was  bent  on  flogging 
me  nearly  to  death,  and  then  selling  me  off  from  my 
family.  This  was  truly  heart-rending  to  my  poor 
wife  ;  the  thought  of  our  being  torn  apart  in  a 
strange  land  after  having  been  sold  away  from  all 
her  friends  and  relations,  was  more  than  she  could 
bear. 

The  Deacon  had  declared  that  I  should  not  only 
suffer  for  the  crime  of  attending  a  prayer  meeting 
without  his  permission,  and  for  running  away,  but 
for  the  awful  crime  of  stealing  a  jackass,  which  was 
death  by  the  law  when  committed  by  a  negro. 

But  I  well  knew  that  I  was  regarded  as  property, 
and  so  was  the  ass ;  and  I  thought  if  one  piece  of 
property  took  off  another,  there  could  be  no  law 
violated  in  the  act ;  no  more  sin  committed  in  this 
than  if  one  jackass  had  rode  off  another. 

But  after  consultation  with  my  wife  I  concluded' 
to  take  her  and  my  little  daughter  with  me  and  they 
would  be  guilty  of  the  same  crime  that  I  vv^as,  so  far 
as  running  away  was  concerned ;  and  if  the  Deacon 
,sold  one  he  might  sell  us  all,  and  perhaps  to  the  same 
person. 

So  we  started  off  with  our  child  that  night,  and 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  123 

made  our  way  down  to  the  Red  river  swamps  among 
the  buzzing  insects  and  wild  beasts  of  the  forest. 
We  wandered  about  in  the  wilderness  for  eight  or 
ten  days  before  we  were  apprehended,  striving  to 
make  our  way  from  slavery ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 
Our  food  was  parched  corn,  with  wild  fruit  such  as 
pawpaws,  percimmons,  grapes,  &c.  We  did  at  one 
time  chance  to  find  a  sweet  potato  patch  where  .we 
got  a  few  potatoes  ;  but  most  of  the  time,  while  we 
were  out,  we  were  lost.  We  wanted  to  cross  the 
Red  river  but  could  find  no  conveyance  to  cross 
in. 

I  recollect  one  day  of  finding  a  crooked  trco 
which  bent  over  the  river  or  over  one  fork  of  the 
river,  where  it  was  divided  by  an  island.  I  should 
think  that  the  tree  v/as  at  least  twenty  feet  from  the 
surface  of  the  water.  I  picked  up  my  little  child, 
and  my  wife  followed  me,  saying,  "  if  we  perish  let 
us  all  perish  together  in  the  stream."  We  succeeded 
in  crossing  over.  I  often  look  back  to  that  danger- 
ous event  even  now  with  astonishment,  and  wonder 
how  I  could  have  run  such  a  risk.  What  would  in- 
duce me  to  run  the  same  risk  now  ?  What  could 
induce  me  now  to  leave  home  and  friends  and  go  to 
the  wild  forest  and  lay  out  on  the  cold  ground  night 
after  night  without  covering,  and  live  on  parched 
corn  ? 

What  would  induce  me  to  take  my  family  and  go 
into  the  Red  river  swamps  of  Louisiana  among  the 
snakes  and  alligators,  with  all  the  liabilities  of  being 
destroyed  by  them,  hunted  down  with  blood  hoimds, 
or  lay    myself  liable  to  be  shot  down   like  the  wild 


.124  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

beasts  of  the  forest  ?  Nothing  I  say,  nothing  but 
the  strongest  love  of  liberty,  humanity,  and  justice 
to  myself  and  family,  would  induce  me  to  run  such 
a  risk  again. 

When  we  crossed  over  on  the  tree  we  supposed 
that  we  had  crossed  over  the  main  body  of  the  river, 
but  we  had  not  proceeded  far  on  our  journey  before 
we,  found  that  we  were  on  an  Island  surrounded  by 
water  on  either  side.  We  made  our  bed  that  night 
in  a  pile  of  dry  leaves  which  had  fallen  from  off  the 
trees.  We  were  much  rest-broken,  wearied  from 
hunger  and  travelling  through  briers,  swamps  and 
cane-brakes — consequently  we  soon  fell  asleep  after 
lying  down.  About  the  dead  hour  of  the  night  I 
was  aroused  by  the  awful  howling  of  a  gang  of  blood- 
thirsty wolves,  which  had  found  us  out  and  sur- 
rounded us  as  their  prey,  there  in  tlie  dark  wilder- 
ness many  miles  from  any  house  or  settlement. 

My  dear  little  child  was  so  dreadfully  alarmed 
that  she  screamed  loudly  with  fear — my  wife  trem- 
bling like  a  leaf  on  a  tree,  at  the  thought  of  being 
devoured  there  in  the  wilderness  by  ferocious 
wolves. 

The  wolves  kept  howling,  and  were  near  enough 
for  us  to  see  their  glaring  eyes,  and  hear  their 
chattering  teeth.  I  then  thought  that  the  hour  of 
death  for  us  was  at  hand;  that  we  should  not  live 
to  see  the  light  of  another  day ;  for  there  was  no 
way  for  our  escape.  My  little  family  were  looking 
up  to  me  for  protection,  but  I  could  afford  them 
none.  A.nd  while  I  was  offering  up  my  prayers  to 
that  Goa   who  never  forsakes  those  in  the  hour  of 


126  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

danger  who  trust  in  him,  I  thought  of  Deacon 
Whitfield ;  I  thought  of  his  profession,  and  doubted 
his  piety.  I  thought  of  his  hand-cuifs,  of  his  whips, 
of  his  chains,  of  his  stocks,  of  his  thumb- screws,  of 
his  slave  driver  and  overseer,  and  of  his  religion ; 
I  also  thought  of  his  opposition  to  prayer  meetings, 
and  of  his  five  hundred  lashes  promised  me  for  at- 
tending a  prayer  meeting.  I  thought  of  God,  I 
thought  of  the  devil,  I  thought  of  hell ;  and  I  thought 
of  heaven,  and  wondered  wiiether  I  should  ever  see 
the  Deacon  there.  And  I  calculated  that  if  heaven 
was  made  up  of  such  Deacons,  or  such  persons,  it 
could  not  be  filled  with  love  to  all  mankind,  and 
with  glory  and  eternal  happiness,  as  we  know  it  is 
from  the  truth  of  the  Bible. 

The  reader  may  perhaps  think  me  tedious  on  this 
topic,  but  indeed  it  is  one  of  so  much  interest  to  mei 
that  I  find  myself  entirely  unable  to  describe  what 
my  own  feelings  were  at  that  time.  I  was  so  much 
excited  by  the  fierce  howling  of  the  savage  wolves, 
and  the  frightful  screams  of  my  little  famil}^  that  I 
thought  of  the  future ;  I  thought  of  the  past ;  I 
thought  the  time  of  my  departure  had  come  at  last. 

My  impression  is,  that  all  these  thouglits  and 
thousands  of  others,  flashed  through  my  mind,  while 
I  was  surrounded  by  those  wolves.  But  it  seemed 
to  be  the  will  of  a  merciful  providence,  that  our 
lives  should  be  sparred,  and  that  we  should  not  be 
destroyed  by  them. 

I  had  no  weapon  of  defence  bui  a  long  bowie  knife 
which  I  had  slipped  from  the  Deacon.  It  was  a 
very  splendid  blade,  about   two  feet  in  length,  and 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    EIBB.  127 

about  two  inches  in  width.  This  used  to  be  a  part 
of  his  armor  of  defence  while  walking  about  the 
plantation  among  his  slaves. 

The  plan  which  I  took  to  expel  the  wolves  Vv^as 
a  very  dangerous  one,  but  it  proved  effectual. 
While  they  were  advancing  to  me,  prancing  and 
accumulating  in  number,  apparently  of  all  sizes  and 
grades,  who  had  come  to  the  feast,  I  thought  just  at 
this  time,  that  there  was  no  alternative  left  but  for 
me  to  make  a  charge  with  my  bowie  knife.  I  well 
knew  from  the  action  of  the  wolves,  that  if  I  made 
no  farther  resistance,  they  would  soon  destroy  us, 
and  if  I  made  a  break  at  them,  the  matter  could  be 
no  worse.  I  thought  if  I  must  die,  I  would  die 
striving  to  protect  my  little  family  from  destruction, 
die  striving  to  escape  from  slavery.  My  wife  took 
a  club  in  one  hand,  and  her  child  in  the  other,  while 
I  rushed  forth  with  my  bowie  knife  in  hand,  to  fight 
oif  the  savage  wolves.  I  made  one  desperate  charge 
at  them,  and  at  the  same  time  making  a  loud  yell 
at  the  top  of  my  voice,  that  caused  them  to  retreat 
and  scatter,  which  was  equivalent  to  a  victory  on 
our  part.  Our  prayers  were  answered,  and  our 
lives  spared  through  the  night.  We  slept  no  more 
that  night,  and  the  next  morning  there  were  no 
wolves  to  be  seen  or  heard,  and  we  resolved  not  to 
stay  on  that  island  another  night. 

We  travelled  up  and  down  the  river  side  trying 
to  find  a  place  where  we  could  cross.  Finally  we 
found  a  lot  of  drift  wood  clogged  together,  extend- 
ing across  the  stream  at  a  narrow  place  in  the 
river,  upon    which   we    crossed  over.     But  we  had 


128  NARllATIVE    OF    IJENRY    BIBB. 

not  3^et  sunnoimtcd  our  greatest  difficulty.  We 
had  to  meet  one  which  was  far  more  formidable 
than  the  first.  Not  m.any  days  afrer  I  had  to  face 
the  Deacon. 

We  had  been  wandering  about  through  the  cane 
brakes,  bushes,  and  briers,  for  several .  days,  when 
we  heard  the  yelping  of  blood  hounds,  a  great  way 
off,  but  they  seemed  to  come  nearer  and  nearer  to 
us.  "We  thought  after  awhile  that  they  muist  be  on 
our  track  ;  we  listened  attentively  at  the  approach. 
We  knew  it  was  no  use  for  us  to  undertake  to 
escape  from  them,  and  as  they  drew  nigh,  we  heard 
the  voice  of  a  man  hissing  on  the  dogs. 

After  awhile  we  saw  the  hounds  "Coming  in  full 
speed  on  our  track,  and  the  soul  drivers  close  after 
tliem  on  horse  back,  j'elling  like  tigers,  as  they  came 
in  sis'ht.  The  slirill  yelling  of  the  savage  blood 
hounas   as   they  drew  nigh  made   the   woods  echo. 

The  first  impulse  was  to'run  to  escape  the  ap- 
proaching danger  of  ferocious  dogs,  and  blood  thirsty 
shive  hunters,  who  were  so  rapidly  approaching 
me  with  loaded  muskets  and  bowie  knives,  with  a 
determination  to  kill  or  capture  me  and  my  fam- 
ily. I  started  to  run  with  my  little  daughter  iu 
my  arms.,  but  stumbled  and  fell  down  and  scratched 
tiie  arm  of  little  Frances  with  a  brier,  so  that  it 
bled  very  much  ;  but  the  dear  child  never  cried,  for 
she  seemed  to  know  the  danger  to  wliich  we  wore 
eYposed. 

But  v/e  soon  found  that  it  was  no  use  for  us  to 
run.     The  dogs  were  soon  at  our  heels,  and  we  were 

.■r;;n-!iclli  d    !-.>    stnr-!.   rir  h.-    t    r-.\    t:,    r  Icf,'^    bv    flu^m. 


WlMf,     


p/ 


mm'^'^H'T' ' 


130  NARRATIVE    (F    FIKKRY    EISS. 

By  this  time,  the  soul  drivers  came  charging  up  on 
their  horses,  commanding  us  to  stand  still  or  they 
would  shoot  us  down. 

Of  course  I  surrendered  up  for  the  sake  of  my 
family.  The  most  abusive  terms  to  be  found  in  the 
English  language,  were  poured  forth  on  us  with 
bitter  oaths.  They  tied  my  hands  behind  me,  and 
drove  us  home  before  them,  to  suffer  the  penalty  of 
a  slaveholder's  broken  law. 

As  we  drew  nigh  the  plantation  my  heart  grew 
faint.  I  was  aware  that  we  should  have  to  suffer 
almost  death  for  running  off.  I  was  filled  with 
dreadful  apprehensions  at  the  thought  of  meeting  a 
professed  follower  of  Christ,  whom  I  knew  to  be  a 
hypocrite  !  No  tongue,  no  pen  can  evei  describe 
whftt  my  feelings  were  at  that  time. 


CHAPTER  XII 


My  sad  condition  before  "Whitfield. — My  terrible  punisliment.— 
Incidents  of  a  former  attempt  to  escape. — Jack  at  a  farm  house. 
— Six  pigs  and  a  turkey. — Our  surprise  and  arrest. 

The  reader  may  perhaps  imagine  wiiat  must  have 
been  my  feelings  when  I  found  myself  surrounded  on 
the  island  with  my  little  family,  at  midnight,  by  a 
gang  of  savage  wolves.  This  was  one  of  those  try- 
ing emergencies  in  my  life  when  there  was  apparently 
but  one  step  between  us  and  the  grave.  But  I  had 
no  cords  wra,pped  about  my  limbs  to  prevent  my 
struggling  against  the  impending  danger  to  which  I 
was  then  exposed.  I  was  not  denied  the  consola- 
tion of  resisting  in  self  defence,  as  was  now  the 
case.  There  was  no  Deacon  standing  before  me,- 
with  a  loaded  rifle,  swearing  that  I  should  submit 
to  the  torturing  lash,  or  be  shot  down  like  a  dumb 
beast. 

I  felt  that  my  chance  was  by  far  better  among  the 
howling  wolves  in  the  Red  river  swamp,  than  before 
Deacon  Whitfield,  on  the  cotton  plantation.  I  was 
brought  before  him  as  a  criminal  before  a  bar,  with- 
out counsel,  to  be  tried  and  condemned  by  a  tyrant's 
law.  My  arms  were  bound  with  a  cord,  my  spirit 
broken,  and  my  little  family  standing  by  weeping. 


132  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

I  was  not  allowed  to  plead  my  own  cause,  and  there 
was  no  one  to  utter  a  word  in  my  behalf. 

He  ordered  that  the  field  hands  should  be  called 
together  to  witness  my  punishment,  that  it  might 
serve  as  a  caution  to  them  never  to  attend  a  prayer 
meeting,  or  runaway  as  I  had,  lest  they  should  re- 
ceive the  same  punishment. 

At  the  sound  of  the  overseer's  horn,  all  the  slaves 
came  forward  and  witnessed  my  punishment.  My 
clothing  was  stripped  off  and  I  was  compelled  U 
lie  down  on  the  ground  with  my  face  to  the  earth 
Four  stakes  were  driven  in  the  ground,  to  which 
my  hands  and  feet  were  tied.  Then  the  overseei 
stood  over  me  with  the  lash  and  laid  it  on  accord 
ing  to  the  Deacon's  order.  Fifty  lashes  were  laid  on 
before  stopping.  I  wiis  then  lectured  with  reference 
to  my  going  to  prayer  meeting  without  his  orders, 
ai]d  running  away  to  escape  flogging. 

While  I  suffered  under  this  dreadful  torture,  I 
prayed,  and  wept,  and  implored  mercy  at  the  hand 
of  slavery,  but  found  none.  After  I  was  marked 
ft'om  my  neck  to  my  heels,  the  Deacon  took  the 
gory  lash,  and  said  he  thought  there  was  a  spot  on 
my  back  yet  where  he  could  put  in  afewmore.  He 
wanted  to  give  me  something  to  remember  him  by, 
he  said. 

After  I  was  flogged  almost  to  death  in  this  way, 
a  paddle  was  brought  forward  and  eight  or  ten  blows 
given  me  with  it,  which  was  by  far  worse  tban  the 
lash.  My  wounds  were  then  washed  with  salt  brine, 
after  which  I  was  let  up.  A  description  of  such 
paddles  I  have   already  given  in  another  page.     I 


134  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB, 

was  SO  badly  punished  that  I  was  not  able  to  work 
for  several  days.  After  being  flogged  as  described, 
they  took  me  off  several  miles  to  a  shop  and  had  a 
heavy  iron  collar  riveted  on  my  neck  with  prongs  ex- 
tending above  my  head,  on  the  end  of  which  there 
was  a  small  bell.  I  was  not  able  to  reach  the  bell 
with  my  hand.  This  heavy  load  of  iron  I  was  com* 
pelled  to  wear  for  six  weeks.  I  never  was  allowed 
to  lie  in  the  same  house  with  my  family  again  while 
I  was  the  slave  of  Whitfield.  I  either  had  to  sleep 
with  my  feet  in  the  stocks,  or  be  chained  with  a 
large  log  chain  to  a  log  over  night,  with  no  bed  or 
bedding  to  rest  my  wearied  limbs  on,  after  toiling 
all  day  in  the  cotton  field.  I  suffered  almost  death 
Avliile  kept  in  this  confinement ;  and  he  had  ordered 
the  overseer  never  to  let  me  loose  again ;  saying  that  I 
thought  of  getting  free  by  running  off,  but  no  negro 
should  ever  get  away  from  him  alive. 

I  have  omitted  to  state  that  this  was  the  second 
time  I  had  run  away  from  him ;  while  I  was  gone 
the  first  time,  he  extorted  from  my  wife  the  fact  that- 
I  had  been  in  the  habit  of  running  away,  before  we 
left  Kentucky ;  that  I  had  been  to  Canada,  and  that 
I  was  trying  to  learn  the  art  of  reading  and  writing. 
All  this  was  against  me. 

It  is  true  that  I  was  striving  to  learn  myself  to 
write.  I  was  a  kind  of  a  house  servant  and  was 
frequently  sent  off  on  errands,  but  never  without  a 
written  pass  ;  and  on  Sundays  I  have  sometimes  got 
permission  to  visit  our  neighbor's  slaves,  and  I  have 
often  tried  to  write  myself  a  pass. 

Whenever  I  got  hold  of  an  old   letter   that   had 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  135 

been  thrown  away,  or  a  piece  of  white  paper,  I  would 
save  it  to  write  on.  I  have  often  gone  off  in  the 
woods  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  day  alone, 
trying  to  learn  to  write  myself  a  pass,  by  writing  on 
the  backs  of  old  letters  ;  copying  after  the  pass  that 
had  been  written  by  Whitfield ;  by  so  doing  I  got 
the  use  of  the  pen  and  could  form  letters  as  well  as 
I  can  now,  but  knew  not  what  they  were. 

The  Deacon  had  an  old  slave  by  the  name  of  Jack 
whom  he  bought  about  the  time  that  he  bought  me. 
Jack  was  born  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  He'  had 
some  idea  of  freedom  ;  had  often  run  away,  but  was 
very  ignorant ;  knew  not  where  to  go  for  refuge  ; 
but  understood  all  about  providing  something  to 
eat  when  unjustly  deprived  of  it. 

So  for  ill"  treatment,  we  concluded  to  take  a  tramp 
together.  I  was  to  be  the  pilot,  while  Jack  was  to 
carry  the  baggage  and  keep  us  in  provisions.  Be- 
fore we  started,  I  managed  to  get  hold  of  a  suit  of 
clothes  the  Deacon  possessed,  with  his  gun,  ammu- 
nition and  bowie  knife.  We  also  procured  a  blank- 
et, a  joint  of  meat,  and  some  bread. 

We  started  in  a  northern  direction,  being  bound 
for  the  city  of  Little  Rock,  State  of  Arkansas.  We 
travelled  by  night  and  laid  by  in  the  day,  being  guid- 
ed by  the  unchangeable  North  Star ;  but  at  length, 
our  provisions  gave  out,  and  it  was  Jack's  place  to 
get  more.  We  came  in  sight  of  a  large  plantation 
6ne  morning,  where  we  saw  people  of  color,  and 
Jack  said  he  could  get  something  there,  among  the 
slaves,  that  night,  for   us  to  eat.     So  we  concealed 


136  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

ourselves,  in  sight   of  this   plantation   until  about 
bed  time,  when  we  saw  the  lights  extinguished. 

During  the  day  we  saw  a  female  slave  passing 
from  the  dwelling  house  to  the  kitchen  as  if  she  was 
the  cook ;  the  house  being  about  three  rods  from 
the  landlord's  dwelling.  After  we  supposed  the 
whites  were  all  asleep,  Jack  slipped  up  softly  to  the 
kitchen  to  try  his  luck  with  the  cook,  to  see  if  he 
could  get  any  thing  from  her  to  eat. 

I  would  remark  that  the  domestic  slaves  are 
often  found  to  be  traitors  to  their  own  people,  for 
the  purpose  of  gaining  favor  with  their  masters ; 
and  they  are  encouraged  and  trained  up  by  them  to 
report  every  plot  they  know  of  being  formed  about 
stealing  any  thing,  or  running  away,  or  any  thing 
of  the  kind ;  and  for  which  they  are  paid.  This  is 
one  of  the  principal  causes  of  the  slaves  being  di- 
vided among  themselves,  and  without  which  they 
could  not  be  held  in  bondage  one  year,  and  perhaps 
not  half  that  time. 

I  now  proceed  to  describe  the  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt of  poor  Jack  to  obtain  something  from  the 
female  slave  to  satisfy  hunger.  The  planter's  house 
was  situated  on  an  elevated  spot  on  the  side  of  a 
hill.  The  fencing  about  the  house  and  garden 
was  very  crookedly  laid  up  with  rails.  The  night 
was  rather  dark  and  rainy,  and  Jack  left  me  with 
the  understanding  that  I  was  to  stay  at  a  certain 
place  until  he  returned.  I  cautioned  him  before  he 
left  me  to  be  very  careful — and  after  he  started,  I 
left  the  place  where  he  was  to  find  me  when  he  re- 
turned, for  fear  something  might  happen  which  might 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  137 

lead  to  my  detection,  should  I  remain  at  that  spot. 
So  I  left  it  and  went  off  where  I  could  see  the  house, 
and  that  place  too. 

Jack  had  not  long  been  gone,  before  I  heard  a 
great  noise  ;  a  man,  crying  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
"  Catch  him !  Catch  him  !"  and  hissing  the  dogs  on, 
and  they  were  close  after  Jack.  The  next  thing  I 
saw,  was  Jack  runiiing  for  life,  and  an  old  white  man 
after  him,  with  a  gun,  and  his  dogs.  The  fence  be- 
ing on  sidling  ground,  and  wet  with  the  rain,  when 
Jack  run  against  it  he  knocked  down  several  pannels 
of  it  and  fell,  tumbling  over  and  over  to  the  foot  of 
the  hill ;  but  soon  recovered  and  ran  to  where  he 
had  left  me ;  but  I  was  gone.  The  dogs  were  still 
after  him. 

There  happened  to  be  quite  a  thicket  of  small 
oak  shrubs  and  bushes  in  the  direction  he  ran.  I 
think  he  might  have  been  heard  running  and  strad- 
dling bushes  a  quarter  of  a  mile  !  The  poor  fellow 
hurt  himself  considerably  in.  straddling  over  bushes 
in  that  way,  in  making  his  escape. 

Finally  the  dogs  relaxed  their  chase  and  poor 
Jack  and  myself  again  met  in  the  thick  forest.  He 
'said  when  he  rapped  on  the  cook-house  door,  the 
colored  woman  came  to  the  door.  He  asked  her  if 
she  would  let  him  have  a  bite  of  bread  if  she  had  it, 
that  he  was  a  poor  hungry  absconding  slave.  But 
she  made  no  reply  to  what  he  said  but  immediately 
sounded  the  alarm  by  calling  loudly  after  her  mas- 
ter, saying,  "  here  is  a  runaway  negro  !"  Jack  said 
that  he  was  going  to  knock   her  down  but  her  mas- 


138  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

ter  was  out  within  one  moment,  and  he  had  to  run 
for  his  life. 

As  soon  as  we  got  our  eyes  fixed  on  the  North 
Star  again,  we  started  on  our  way.  We  travelled 
on  a  few  miles  and  came  to  another  large  plantation, 
where  Jack  was  determined  to  get  something  to  eat. 
He  left  me  at  a  certain  place  while  he  went  up  to 
the  house  to  find  something  if  possible. 

He  was  gone  some  time  before  he  returned,  but 
when  I  saw  him  coming,  he  appeared  to  be  very 
heavy  loaded  with  a  bag  of  something.  We  walked 
oil*  pretty  fast  until  we  got  some  distance  in  the 
woods.  Jack  then  stopped  and  opened  his  bag  in 
which  he  had  six  small  pigs.  I  asked  him  how  he 
got  them  without  making  any  noise  ;  and  he  said 
that  he  found  a  bed  of  hogs,  in  which  there  were 
the  pigs  with  their  mother.  While  the  pigs  were 
sucking  he  crawled  up  to  them  without  being  dis- 
covered by  the  sow,  and  took  them  by  their  necks 
one  after  another,  and  choked  them  to  death,  and 
slipped  them  into  his  bag  ! 

We  intended  to  travel  on  all  that  night  and  lay 
by  the  next  day  in  the  forest  and  cook  up  our  pigs. 
We  fell  into  a  large  road  leading  on  the  diree- 
tion  which  we  v/ere  travelling,  and  had  not  proceed- 
ed over  three  miles  before  I  found  a  white  hat  lying 
in  the  road  before  me.  Jack  being  a  little  behind 
me  I  stopped  until  he  came  up,  and  showed  it  to  him. 
He  picked  it  up.  We  looked  a  few  steps  farther 
and  sav/  a  man  lying  by  the  way,  either  asleep  or 
intoxicated,  as  we  supposed. 

I  told  Jack  not  to  take  the  hat,  but  he  would  not 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  139 

obey  me.  He  had  only  a  piece  of  a  hat  himself, 
which  he  left  in  exchange  for  the  other.  We  travelled 
on  about  five  miles  farther,  and  in  passing  a  house 
discovered  a  large  turkey  sitting  on  the  fence,  which 
temptation  was  greater  than  Jack  could  resist. 
Notwithstanding  he  had  six  very  nice  fat  little  pigs 
on  his  back,  he  stepped  up  and  took  the  turkey  off 
the  fence. 

By  this  time  it  was  getting  near  day-light  and  we 
left  the  road  and  went  off  a  mile  or  so  among  the 
hills  of  the  forest,  where  we  struck  camp  for  the 
day.  We  then  picked  our  turkey,  dressed  our  pigs, 
and  cooked  two  of  them.  We  got  the  hair  off  by 
singeing  them  over  the  fire,  and  after  we  had  eaten 
all  we  wanted,  one  of  us  slept  while  the  other  watch- 
ed. We  had  flint,  punk,  and  powder  to  strike  fire 
with.  A  little  after  dark  the  next  night,  we  started 
on  our  way. 

But  about  ten  o'clock  that  night  just  as  we  were  , 
passing  through  a  thick  skirt  of  woods,  five  men 
sprang  out  before  us  with  fire-arms,  swearing  if  we 
moved  another  step,  they  would  shoot  us  down  ; 
and  each  man  having  his  gun  drawn  up  for  shooting 
we  had  no  chance  to  make  any  defence,  and  surren 
dered  sooner  than  run  the  risk  of  being  killed. 

They  had  been  lying  in  wait  for  us  there,  for 
several  hours.  They  had  seen  a  reward  out,  for 
notices  were  put  up  in  the  most  public  places,  that 
fifty  dollars  would  be  paid  for  me,  dead  or  alive, 
if  I  should  not  return  home  within  so  many  days. 
And  the  reader  will  remember  that  neither  Jack  nor 
myself  was  able  to  read  the  advertisement.     It  was 


140 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 


of  very  little  consequence  with  the  slave  catchers, 
whether  they  killed  us  or  took  us  alive,  for  the  re- 
ward was  the  same  to  them. 


After  we  were  taken  and  tied,  one  of  the  men  de- 
clared to  me  that  he  would  have  shot  me  dead  just 
as  sure  as  he  lived,  if  I  had  moved  one  step  after 
they  commanded  us  to  stop.  He  had  his  gun  level- 
led at  my  breast,  already  cocked,  and  his  finger  on 
the  trigger.  The  way  they  came  to  find  us  out  was 
from  the  circumstance  of  Jack's  taking  tlie  man's 
hat  in  connection  with  tlie  advertisement.  The  man 
whose  hat  was  taken  was  drunk ;  and  the  next 
mortiing  when  he  came  to  look  for  his  hat  it  was 
gone  and  Jack's  old  hat  lying  in  the  place  of  ii:; 
and  in  looking  round  he  saw  the  tracks  of  two  per- 
sons in  the  dust,  who  had  passed  during  the  night, 
and  one  of  them  having  but  three  toes  on  one  foot. 
He  followed  these  tracks  until  they  came  to  a  large 
mud  pond,  in  a  lane  on  one  side  of  which  a  person 
might  pass  dry  shod  ;  but  the  man  with  three  toes 
on  one  foot  had  plunged  through  the  mud.  This  led 
the  man  to  think  there   must  be  runaway  slaves, 


X.. 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  141 

and  from  out  of  that  neighborhood  ;  for  all  persons 
in  that  settlement  knew  which  side  of  that  mud  hole 
to  go.  He  then  got  others  to  go  with  him,  and  they 
followed  us  until  our  track  left  the  road.  They 
supposed  that  we  had  gone  off  in  the  woods  to  lay 
by  until  night,  after  which  we  should  pursue  our 
course. 

After  we  were  captured  they  took  us  off  several 
miles  to  where  one  of  them  lived,  and  kept  us  over 
night.  One  of  our  pigs  was  cooked  for  us  to  eat 
that  night ;  and  the  turkey  the  next  morning.  But 
we  were  both  tied  that  night  with  our  hands  behind 
us,  and  our  feet  were  also  tied.  The  doors  were  lock- 
ed, and  a  bedstead  was  set  against  the  front  door, 
and  two  men  slept  in  it  to  prevent  our  getting  out 
in  the  night.  They  said  that  they  knew  how  to 
catch  runaway  negroes,  and  how  to  keep  them  after 
they  were  caught. 

They  remarked  that  after  they  found  we  had 
stopped  to  lay  by  until  night,  and  they  saw  from 
our  tracks  what  direction  we  were  travelling,  they 
went  about  ten  miles  on  that  direction,  and  hid  by 
the  road  side  until  we  came  up  that  night.  That 
night  after  all  had  got  fast  to  sleep,  I  thought  I 
would  try  to  get  out,  and  I  should  have  succeeded, 
if  I  could  have  moved  the  bed  from  the  door.  I 
managed  to  untie  myself  and  crawled  under  the  bed 
which  was  placed  at  the  door,  and  strove  to  remove 
it,  but  in  so  doing  I  awakened  the  men  and  they  got 
up  and  confined  me  again,  and  watched  me  until  day 
light,  each  with  a  gun  in  hand. 

The  next  morning  they  started  with  us  back  to 


142  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

Deacon  Whitfield's  plantation  ;  but  when  they  got 
within  ten  miles  of  where  he  lived  they  stopped  at 
a  public  house  to  stay  over  night ;  and  who  should 
we  meet  there  but  the  Deacon,  who  was  then  out 
looking  for  me. 

The  reader  may  well  imagine  how  I  felt  to  meet 
"him.  I  had  almost  as  soon  come  in  contact  with 
Satan  himself.  He  had  two  long  poles  or  sticks  of 
wood  brought  in  to  confine  us  to.  I  was  compelled 
to  lie  on  my  back  across  one  of  those  sticks  with 
my  arms  out,  and  have  them  lashed  fast  to  the  log 
with  a  cord.  My  feet  were  also  tied  to  the  other, 
and  there  I  had  to  lie  all  that  night  with  my  back 
across  this  stick  of  wood,  and  my  feet  and  hands 
tied.  I  suffered  that  night  under  the  most  excru- 
ciating pain.  From  the  tight  binding  of  the  cord 
the  circulation  of  the  blood  in  my  arms  and  feet 
was  almost  entirely  stopped.  If  the  night  had  been 
much  longer  I  must  have  died  in  that  confinement. 

The  next  morning  we  were  taken  back  to  the 
Deacon's  farm,  and  both  flogged  for  going  off,  and 
set  to  work.  But  there  was  some  allowance  made 
for  me  on  account  of  my  being  young.  They  said 
that  they  knew  old  Jack  had  pursuaded  me  off,  or  I 
never  would  have  gone.  And  the  Deacon's  wife 
begged  that  I  might  be  favored  some,  for  that  time, 
as  Jack  had  influenced  me,  so  as  to  bring  up  my  old 
habits  of  running  away  that  I  had  entirely  given  up. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


I  am  sold  to  gamblers. They  try  to  purchase  my  family.— 

Our  parting  scene. — My  good  usage. — I  am  sold  to  an  Indian. 
— His  confidence  in  my  integrity  manifested. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  this  brings  me 
back  to  the  time  the  Deacon  had  ordered  me  to 
be  kept  in  confinement  until  he  got  a  chance  to  sell 
me,  and  that  no  negro  should  ever  get  away  from 
him  and  live.  Some  days  after  this  we  were  all  out 
at  the  gin  house  ginning  cotton,  which  was  situated 
on  the  road  side,  and  there  came  along  a  company 
of  men,  fifteen  or  twenty  in  number,  who  were 
Southern  sportsmen.  Their  attention  was  attract- 
ed by  the  load  of  iron  which  was  fastened  about  my 
neck  with  a  bell  attached.  They  stopped  and  asked 
the  Deacon  what  that  bell  was  put  on  my  neck  for  ? 
and  he  said  it  was  to  keep  me  from  running  away,  &c. 

They  remarked  that  I  looked  as  if  I  might  be 
a  smart  negro,  and  asked  if  he  wanted  to  sell  me. 
The  reply  was,  yes.  They  then  got  off  their  horses 
and  struck  a  bargain  with  him  for  me.  They  bought 
me  at  a  reduced  price  for  speculation. 

After  they  had  purchased  me,  I  asked  the  privi- 
lege of  going  to  the  house  to  take  leave  of  my  family 
before  I  left,  which  was  granted  by  the  sportsmen. 
But  the  Deacon  said  I  should  never  again  step  my 


144  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

foot  inside  of  his  yard  ;  and  advised  the  sportsmen 
not  to  take  the  irons  from  my  neck  until  they  had 
sold  me ;  that  if  they  gave  me  tlie  least  chance  1 
would  run  away  from  them,  as  I  did  from  him.  So 
I  was  compelled  to  mount  a  horse  and  go  off  with 
them  as  I  supposed,  never  again  to  meet  my  family 
in  this  life. 

We  had  not  proceeded  far  before  they  informed  me 
that  they  had  bought  me  to  sell  again,  and  if  they 
kept  the  irons  on  me  it  would  be  detrimental  to  the 
sale,  and  that  they  would  therefore  take  off  the 
irons  and  dress  me  up  like  a  man,  and  throw  away 
the  old  rubbish  which  I  then  had  on ;  and  they 
would  sell  me  to  some  one  who  would  treat  me  better 
than  Deacon  Whitfield.  After  they  had  cut  off  the 
irons  and  dressed  me  up,  they  crossed  over  Red 
River  into  Texas,  where  they  spent  some  time  horse 
racing  and  gambling  ;  and  although  they  were  wick- 
ed black  legs  of  the  basest  character,  it  is  but  due 
to  them  to  say,  that  they  used  me  far  better  than 
ever  the  Deacon  did.  They  gave  me  plenty  to  eat 
and  put  nothing  hard  on  me  to  do.  They  expressed 
muph  sympathy  for  me  in  my  bereavement ;  and 
almost  every  day  they  gave  me  money  more  or  less, 
and  by  my  activity  in  waiting  on  them,  and  upright 
conduct,  I  got  into  the  good  graces  of  them  all,  but 
they  could  not  get  any  person  to  buy  me  on  account 
of  the  amount  of  intelligence  which  they  supposed 
me  ^ )  have  ;  for  many  of  them  thought  that  I  could 
read  and  write.  When  they  left  Texas,  they  intend- 
ed to  go  to  the  Indian  Territory  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, to  attend  a  great  horse  race  which  was  t^ 


NARRATIVE    OP    HENRY    BlBB.  145 

take  place.  Not  being  much  out  of  their  way  to  go 
past  Deacon  Whitfield's  again,  I  prevailed  on  them 
to  call  on  him  for  the  purpose  of  trying  to  purchase 
my  wife  and  child ;  and  I  promised  them  that  if  they 
would  buy  my  wife  and  child,  I  would  get  some  per* 
son  to  purchase  us  from  them.  So  they  tried  to 
grant  my  request  by  calling  on  the  Deacon,  and 
trying  to  make  the  purchase.  As  we  approached 
the  Deacon's  plantation,  my  heart  was  filled  with  a 
thousand  painful  and  fearful  apprehensions.  I  had 
the  fullest  confidence  in  the  blacklegs  with  whom  I 
travelled,  believing  that  they  would  do  according 
to  promise,  and  go  to  the  fullest  extent  of  their 
ability  to  restore  peace  and  consolation  to  a  bereav- 
ed family — to  re- unite  husband  and  wife,  parent  and 
child,  who  had  long  been  severed  by  slavery  through 
the  agency  of  Deacon  Whitfield.  But  I  knew  his 
determination  in  relation  to  myself,  and  I  feared  his 
wicked  opposition  to  a  i^estoration  of  myself  and 
little  family,  which  he  had  divided,  and  soon  found 
that  my  fears  were  not  without  foundation. 

When  we  rode  up  and  walked  into  his  yard,  the 
Deacon  came  out  and  spoke  to  all  but  myself;  and 
not  finding  me  in  tattered  rags  as  a  substitute  for 
clothes,  nor  having  an  iron  collar  or  bell  about  my 
neck,  as  was  the  case  when  he  sold  me,  he  appeared  to 
be  much  displeased. 

"What  did  you  bring  that  negro  back  here  for  ?" 
said  he. 

"  We  have,  come  to  try  to  buy  his  wife  and  child  ; 
for  we  can  find  no  one  who  is  willing  to  buy  him 
6 


146  NARRATIVE    or   HENRY    BIBB. 

alone ;  and  we  will  either  buy  or  sell  so  that  the 
family  may  be  together,"  said  they. 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  my  poor 
bereaved  wife,  who  never  expected  to  see  me  again 
in  this  life,  spied  me  and  came  rushing  to  me  through 
the  crowd,  throwing  her  arms  about  my  neck  ex- 
claiming in  the  most  sympathetic  tones,  "  Oh  !  my 
dear  husband  !  I  never  expected  to  see  you  again  !'* 
The  poor  woman  was  bathed  with  tears  of  sorrow 
and  grief.  But  no  sooner  had  she  reached  me,  than 
the  Deacon  peremptorily  commanded  her  to  go  to 
her  work.  This  she  did  not  ^bey,  but  prayed  that 
her  master  would  not  separate  us  again,  as  she  was 
there  alone,  far  from-  friends  and  relations  whom 
she  should  never  meet  again.  And  now  to  take 
away  her  husband,  her  last  af^xl  only  true  friend, 
would  be  like  taking  her  life  ! 

But  such  appeals  made  no  iirpression  on  the  un- 
feeling Deacon's  heart.  While  he  was  storming 
with  abusive  language,  and  even  using  the  gory  lash 
with  hellish  vengeance  to  separate  husband  and  wife, 
I  could  see  the  sympatl  etic  tear-drop,  stealing  its 
way  down  the  cheek  of  the  profligate  and  black-leg, 
whose  object  it  now  was  to  bind  up  the  broken  heart 
of  a  wife,  and  restore  to  the  arms  of  a  ber-*^ved  huS' 
band,  his  companion. 

They  were  disgusted  at  the  conduct  of  Whitfield 
and  cried  out  shame,  even  in  his  presence.  They 
told  him  that  they  would  give  a  thousand  dollars 
for  my  wife  and  child,  or  any  thing  in  reason.  But 
no  !  he  would  sooner  see  me  to  the  devil  than  in- 
dulge or  gratify  me  after  my  having  run  away  from 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRV    EIRE.  147 

him ;  and  if  they  did  not  remove  me  from  his  presence 
very  soon,  he  said  he  should  make  them  suffer  for  it. 

But  all  this,  and  even  the  gory  lash  had  yet  failed  to 
break  the  grasp  of  poor  Malinda,  whose  prospect 
of  connubial,  social,  and  future  happiness  was  all  at 
stake.  When  the  dear  woman  saw  there  was  no 
help  for  us,  and  that  we  should  soon  be  separated 
forever,  in  the  name  of  Deacon  Whitfield,  and  Amer- 
ican slavery  to  meet  no  more  as  husband  and  wife, 
parent  andchild--the  last  andloudest  appeal  was  made 
on  our  knees.  We  appealed  to  the  God  of  justice  and 
to  the  sacred  ties  of  humanity ;  but  this  was  all  in 
vain.  The  louder  we  prayed  the  harder  he  whipped, 
amid  the  most  heart-rending  shrieks  from  the  poor 
slave  mother  and  child,  as  little  Frances  stood  by, 
sobbing  at  the  abuse  inliicted  on  her  mother. 

"  Oh  !  how  shall  I  give  my  husband  the  parting 
hand  never  to  meet  again  ?  This  will  surely  break 
my  heart,"  were  her  parting  words. 

I  can  never  describe  to  the  reader  the  awful  re- 
ality of  that  separation — for  it  was  enough  to  chill 
the  blood  and  stir  up  the  deepest  feeling  of  revenge 
in  the  hearts  of  slaveholding  black-legs,  who  as  they 
stood  by,  were  threatening,  some  weeping,  some 
swearing  and  others  declaring  vengeance  against 
such  treatment  being  inflicted  on  a  human  being. 
As  we  left  the  plantation,  as  far  as  we  could  see  and 
hear,  the  Deacon  was  still  laying  on  the  gory  lash, 
trying  to  prevent  poor  Malinda  from  weeping  over 
the  loss  of  her  departed  husband,  who  was  then,  by 
the  hellish  laws  of  slavery,  to  her,  theoretically  and 


^^ 


..^ 


'^  Oh  !  how  shall  J  give  my  husband  the  parting 
hand  never  to  meet  again. 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  149 

practically  dead.  One  of  the  black-legs  exclaimed 
that  hell  was  full  of  just  such  Deacon's  as  Whitfield. 
This  occurred  in  December,  1840.  I  have  never 
seen  Malinda,  since  that  period.  I  never  expect 
to  see  her  again. 

The  sportsmen  to  whom  I  was  sold,  showed  their 
sympathy  for  me  not  only  by  word  but  by  deeds. 
They  said  that  they  had  made  the  most  liberal  offer 
to  Whitfield,  to  buy  or  sell  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
reuniting  husband  and  wife.  But  he  stood  out 
against  it — they  felt  sorry  for  me.  They  said  they 
had  bought  me  to  speculate  on,  and  were  not  able  to 
lose  what  they  had  paid  for  me.  But  they  would 
make  a  bargain  with  me,  if  I  was  willing,  and  would 
lay  a  plan,  by  which  1  might  yet  get  free.  If  I 
would  use  my  influence  so  as  to  get  some  person  to 
buy  me  while  traveling  about  with  them,  they  would 
give  me  a  portion  of  the  money  for  which  they  sold  me, 
and  they  would  also  give  me  directions  by  which  I 
might  yet  run  away  and  go  to  Canada. 

This  offer  I  accepted,  and  the  plot  was  made. 
They  advised  me  to  act  very  stupid  in  language  and 
thought,  but  in  business  I  must  be  spry  ;  and  that  I 
must  persuade  men  to  buy  me,  and  promise  them 
that  I  would  be  smart. 

We  passed  through  the  State  of  Arkansas  and 
stopped  at  many  places,  horse-racing  and  gambling. 
My  business  was  to  drive  a  wagon  in  which  they 
carried  their  gambling  apparatus,  clothing,  &c.  I 
had  also  to  black  boots  and  attend  to  horses.  Wq 
stopped  at  Fayettville,  where  they  almost  lost  me, 
betting  on  a  horse  race. 


:;^ 


150  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

They  went  from  thence  to  the  Indian  Territory, 
among  the  Cherokee  Indians,  to  attend  the  great 
races  which  were  to  take  place  there.  During  the 
races  there  was  a  very  wealthy  half  Indian  of  that 
tribe,  who  became  much  attached  to  me,  and  had 
some  notion  of  buying  me,  after  hearing  that  I  was 
for  sale,  being  a  slaveholder.  The  idea  struck  me 
rather  favorable,  for  several  reasons.  First,  I 
thought  I  should  stand  a  better  chance  to  get  away 
from  an  Indian  than  from  a  white  man.  Second,  he 
wanted  me  only  for  a  kind  of  a  body  servant  to  wait 
on  him — and  in  this  case  I  knew  that  I  should  fare 
better  than  I  should  in  the  field.  And  my  owners 
also  told  me  that  it  would  be  an  easy  place  to  get 
away  from.  I  took  their  advice  for  fear  I  might  not 
get  another  chance  so  good  as  that,  and  prevailed  on 
the  man  to  buy  me.  He  paid  them  nine  hundred 
dollars,  in  gold  and  silver,  for  me.  I  saw  the  money 
counted  out. 

After  the  purchase  was  made,  the  sportsmen  got 
me  off  to  one  side,  and  according  to  promise  they 
gave  me  a  part  of  the  money,  and  directions  how  to 
get  from  there  to  Canada.  They  also  advised  me 
how  to  act  until  I  got  a  good  chance  to  run  away. 
I  was  to  embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  of  getting 
away,  before  they  should  become  acquainted  with 
me.  I  was  never  to  let  it  be  known  where  I  was 
from,  nor  where  I  was  born.  I  was  to  act  quite 
stupid  and  ignorant.  And  when  I  started  I  was  to 
go  up  the  boundary  line,  between  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory and  the  States  of  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  and 
this  would  fetch  me  out  on  t]ie  Missouri  river,  near 


NARRATIVK    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  151 

Jefferson  city,  the  capital  of  Missouri.  I  was  to 
travel  at  first  by  night,  aud  to  lay  by  in  daylight, 
until  I  got  out  of  danger. 

The  same  afternoon  that  the  Indian  bought  me, 
he  started  with  me  to  his  residence,  which  was  fifty 
or  sixty  miles  distant.  And  so  great  was  his  con- 
fidence in  me,  that  he  intrusted  me  to  carry  his 
money.  The  amount  must  have  been  at  least  five 
hundred  dollars,  which  was  all  in  gold  and  silver; 
and  when  we  stopped  over  night  the  money  and 
horses  w^ere  all  left  in  my  charge. 

It  would  have  been  a  very  easy  matter  for  me  to 
have  taken  one  of  the  best  horses,  with  the  money, 
and  run  off.  And  the  temptation  was  truly  great 
to  a  man  like  myself,  who  was  watching  for  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  escape  ;  and  I  felt  confident 
that  I  should  never  have  a  better  opportunity  to 
escape  full  handed  than  then. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Character  of  my  Indian  Master. — Slavery  among  the  Indians 
less  cruel. — Indian  carousal. — Enfeebled  health  of  my  Indian 
Master. — His  death. — My  escape. — Adventure  in  a  wigwam. — 
Successful  progress  toward  liberty. 

The  next  morning  I  went  home  with  my  new 
master ;  and  by  the  way  it  is  only  doing  justice  to 
the  dead  to  say,  that  he  was  the  most  reasonable, 
and  humane  slaveholder  that  I  have  ever  belonged  to. 
He  was  the  last  man  that  pretended  to  claim  proper- 
ty in  my  person  ;  and  although  I  have  freely  given 
the  names  and  residences  of  all  others  who  have 
held  me  as  a  slave,  for  prudential  reasons  I  shall 
omit  giving  the  name  of  this  individual. 

He  was  the  owner  of  a  large  plantation  and  quite 
a  number  of  slaves.  He  raised  corn  and  wheat  for 
his  own  consumption  only.  There  was  no  cotton, 
tobacco,  or  anything  of  the  kind  produced  among 
them  for  market.  And  I  found  this  difference  be- 
tween negro  slavery  among  the  Indians,  and  the  same 
thing  among  the  white  slaveholders  of  the  South. 
The  Indians  allow  their  slaves  enough  to  eat  and 
wear.  They  have  no  overseers  to  whip  nor  drive 
them.  If  a  slave  offends  his  master,  he  sometimes, 
in  a  heat  of  passion,  undertakes  to  chastise  him  ;  but 
it  is  as   often  the  case  as  otherwise,  that   the  slave 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  15$ 

gets  the  better  of  the  fight,  and  even  flogs  his  master;* 
for  which  there  is  no  law  to  punish  him ;  but  when 
the  fight  is  over  that  is  the  last  of  it.  So  far  as  re- 
ligious instruction  is  concerned,  they  have  it  on 
terms  of  equality,  the  bond  and  the  free  ;  they  have 
no  respect  of  persons,  they  have  neither  slave  laws 
nor  negro  pews.  Neither  do  they  separate  husbands 
and  wives,  nor  parents  and  children.  All  things 
considered,  if  I  must  be  a  slave,  I  had  by  far,  rather 
be  a  slave  to  an  Indian,  than  to  a  white  man,  from 
the   experience  I  have  had  with  both. 

Amajority  of  the  Indians  were  uneducated,  and  still 
followed  up  their  old  heathen  traditional  notions. 
They  made  it  a  rule  to  have  an  Indian  dance  or  frolic, 
about  once  a  fortnight ;  and  they  would  come  together 
fiir  and  near  to  attend  these  dances.  They  would 
most  generally  commence  about  the  middle  of  the  af- 
ternoon ;  and  would  give  notice  by  the  blowing  of 
horns.  One  would  commence  blowing  and  another 
would  answer,  and  so  it  would  go  all  round  the  neigh- 
borhood. When  a  number  had  got  together,  they 
would  strike  a  circle  about  twenty  rods  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  kindle  up  fires  about  twenty  feet  apart,  all 
around,  in  this  circle.  In  the  centre  they  would 
have  a  large  fire  to  dance  around,  and  at  each  one 
of  the  small  fires  there  would  be  a  squaw  to  keep 
up  the  fire,  which  looked  delightful  off  at  a  dis- 
tance. 

But  the  most  degrading  practice  of  all,  was  the 

*  This  singular  fact  is  corroborated  in  a  letter  read  by  the 
publisher,  from  an  acquaintance  while  passing  through  this 
country  in  1849. 


154  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBE. 

use  of  intoxicating  drinks,  which  were  used  to  a 
great  excess  by  all  that  attended  these  stump  dances. 
At  ahnost  all  of  these  fires  there  was  some  one  with 
rum  to'  sell.  There  would  be  some  dancing,  some 
singing,  some  gambling,  some  fighting,  and  some 
yelling ;  and  this  was  kept  up  often  for  two  days 
and  nights  together. 

Their  dress  for  the  dance  was  most  generally  a 
great  bunch  of  bird  feathers,  coon  tails,  or  some- 
thing of  the  kind  stuck  in  their  heads,  and  a  great 
many  shells  tied  about  their  legs  to  rattle  while 
dancing.  Their  manner  of  dancing  is  taking  hold 
of  each  others  hands  and  forming  a  ring  around  the 
large  fire  in  the  centre,  and  go  stomping  around  it 
until  they  would  get  drunk  or  their  heads  would 
get  to  swimming,  and  then  they  would  go  off  and 
drink,  and  another  set  come  on.  Such  were  some 
of  the  practises  indulged  in  by  these  Indian  slave- 
holders. 

My  last  owner  was  in  a  declining  state  of  health 
when  he  bought  me;  and  not  long  after  h^  bought 
me  he  went  off  forty  or  fifty  miles  from  home  to  be 
doctored  by  an  Indian  doctor,  accompanied  by  his 
wife.  I  was  taken  along  also  to  drive  the  carriage 
and  to  wait  upon  him  during  his  sickness.  But  he 
was  then  so  feeble,  that  his  life  was  of  but  short 
duration  after  the  doctor  commenced  on  him. 

While  he  lived,  I  waited  on  him  according  to  the 
best  of  my  ability.  I  watched  over  him  night  and 
day  until  he  died,  and  even  prepared  his  body  for 
the  tomb,  before  I  left  him.  He  died  about  mid- 
night and  I  understood  from  his  friends  that  he  was 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  155 

not  to  be  buried  until  the  second  day  after  his  death. 
f  pretended  to  be  taking  on  at  a  great  rate  about  his 
death,  but  I  was  more  excited  about  running  away, 
than  I  was  about  that,  and  before  daylight  the  next 
morning  I  proved  it,  for  I  was  on  my  way  to  Can- 
ada. 

I  never  expected  a  better  opportunity  would  pre- 
sent itself  for  my  escape.  I  slipped  out  of  the  room 
as  if  I  had  gone  off  to  weep  for  the  deceased,  know- 
ing that  they  would  not  feel  alarmed  about  me  until 
after  my  master  was  buried  and  they  had  returned 
back  to  his  residence.  And  even  then,  they  would 
think  that  I  was  somewhere  on  my  way  home ;  and 
it  would  be  at  least  four  or  five  days  before  they 
would  make  any  stir  in  looking  after  me.  By  that 
time,  if  I  had  no  bad  luck,  I  should  be  out  of  much 
danger. 

After  the  first  day,  I  laid  by  in  the  day  and 
traveled  by  night  for  several  days  and  nights,  pas- 
sing in  this  way  through  several  tribes  of  Indians. 
I  kept  pretty  near  the  boundary  line.  I  recollect 
getting  lost  one  dark  rainy  night.  Not  being  able 
to  find  the  road  I  came  into  an  Indian  settlement 
at  the  dead  hour  of  the  night,  I  was  wet,  wearied, 
cold  and  hungry ;  and  yet  I  felt  afraid  to  enter  any 
of  their  houses  or  wigwams,  not  knowing  whether 
they  would  be  friendly  or  not.  But  I  knew  the 
Indians  were  generally  drunkards,  and  that  occa- 
sionally a  drunken  white  man  was  found  straggling 
among  them,  and  that  such  an  one  would  be  more 
likely  to  find  friends  from  sympathy  than  an  upright 
man. 


156  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB 

So  I  passed  mj^self  off  that  night  as  a  drunkard 
among  them.  I  walked  up  to  the  door  of  one  of 
their  houses,  and  fell  up  against  it,  making  a  great 
noise  like  a  drunken  man  ;  but  no  one  came  to  the 
door.  I  opened  it  and  staggered  in,  falling  about, 
and  making  a  great  noise.  But  finally  an  old  woman 
got  up  and  gave  me  a  blanket  to  lie  down  on. 

There  was  quite  a  number  of  them  lying  about 
on  the  dirt  floor,  but  not  one  could  talk  or  under- 
stand a  word  of  the  English  language.  I  made  signs 
so  as  to  let  them  know  that  I  wanted  something  to 
eat,  but  they  had  nothing,  so  I  had  to  go  without 
that  night.  I  laid  down  and  pretended  to  be  asleep, 
but  I  slept  none  that  night,  foi*  I  was  afraid  that 
they  would  kill  me  if  I  went  to  sleep.  About  one 
hour  before  day,  the  next  morning,  three  of  the 
females  got  up  and  put  into  a  tin  kettle  a  lot  of 
ashes  v/ith  water,  to  boil,  and  then  poured  into  it 
about  one  quart  of  corn.  After  letting  it  stand  a 
few  moments,  they  poured  it  into  a  trough,  and 
pounded  it  into  thin  hominy.  They  washed  it  out, 
and  boiled  it  down,  and  called  me  up  to  eat  my 
breakfast  of  it. 

After  eating,  I  offered  them  six  cents,  but  they  re- 
fused to  accept  it.  I  then  found  my  way  to  the 
main  road,  and  traveled  all  that  day  on  my  journey, 
and  just  at  night  arrived  at  a  public  house  kept 
by  an  Indian,  who  also  kept  a  store.  I  walked  in 
and  asked  if  I  could  get  lodging,  w^hich  vras  granted ; 
but  I  had  not  been  there  long  before  three  men  came 
riding  up  about  dusk,  or  between  sunset  and  dark. 
They  were  white  men,  and  I  supposed  slaveholders. 


NAREATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  157 

At  any  rate  when  they  asked  if  they  could  have 
lodging,  I  trembled  for  fear  they  might  be  in  pursuit 
of  me.  But  the  landlord  told  them  that  he  could 
not  lodge  them,  but  they  could  get  lodging  about 
two  miles  off,  with  a  white  man,  and  they  turned 
their  horses  and  started. 

The  landlord  asked  me  where  I  was  traveling  to, 
and  where  I  was  from.  I  told  him  that  I  had  been 
out  looking  at  the  country ;  that  I  had  thought  of 
buying  land,  and  that  I  lived  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 
in  the  village  of  Perrysburgh.  He  then  said  that  he 
had  lived  there  himself,  and  that  he  had  acted  as  an 
interpreter  there  among  the  Maumee  tribe  of  Indians 
for  several  years.  He  then  asked  who  I  was  ac- 
quainted with  there  ?  I  informed  him  that  I  knew 
Judge  HolUster,  Francis  HoUister,  J.  W.  Smith,  and 
others.  At  this  he  was  so  much  pleased  that  he 
came  up  and  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  received  me 
joyfully,  after  seeing  that  I  was  acquainted  with 
those  of  his  old  friends. 

I  could  converse  with  him  understandingly  from 
personal  acquaintance,  for  I  had  lived  there  when  I 
first  ran  away  from  Kentucky.  But  I  felt  it  to  be 
my  duty  to  start  off  the  next  morning  before  break- 
fast, or  sunrise.  I  bought  a  dozen  of  eggs,  and 
had  them  boiled  to  carry  with  me  to  eat  on  the  way. 
I  did  not  like  the  looks  of  those  tliree  men,  and 
thought  I  would  get  on  as  fast  as  possible  for  fear 
I  might  be  pursued  by  them. 

I  was  then  about  to  enter  the  territory  of  another 
slave  State,  Missouri.  I  had  passed  through  the 
fiery  ordeal  of  Sibley,  Gatewood,  and  Garrison,  and 


158  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

had  even  slipped  through  the  fingers  of  Deacon 
Whitfield.  I  had  doubtless  gone  through  great 
peril  in  crossing  the  Indian  territory,  in  passing 
through  the  various  half  civilized  tribes,  who  seem- 
ed to  look  upon  me  with  astonishment  as  I  passed 
along.  Their  hands  were  almost  invariably  filled 
with  bows  and  arrows,  tomahawks,  guns,  butcher 
knives,  and  all  the  various  implements  of  death 
which  are  used  by  them.  And  what  made  them 
look  still  more  frightful,  their  faces  were  often 
painted  red,  and  their  heads  muffled  with  birds 
feathers,  bushes,  coons  tails  and  owls  heads.  But 
all  this  I  had  passed  through,  and  my  long  enslaved 
limbs  and  spirit  were  then  in  full  stretch  for  eman- 
cipation. I  felt  as  if  one  more  short  struggle  would 
set  me  free. 


S 


CHAPTER  XV 


Adventure  on  the  Prairie. — I  borrow  a  horse  without  leave.— 
Rapid  traveling  one  whole  night. — Apology  for  using  other 
men^s  horses. — My  manner  of  living  on  the  road. 

Early  in  the  morning  I  left  the  Indian  territory 
as  I  have  already  said,  for  fear  I  might  be  pursued 
by  the  three  white  nien  whom  I  had  seen  there  over 
night ;  but  I  had  not  proceeded  far  before  my  fears 
were  magnified  a  hundred  fold. 

I  always  dreaded  to  pass  through  a  prairie,  and 
on  coming  to  one  which  was  about  six  miles  in 
width,  I  was  careful  to  look  in  every  direction  to 
see  whether  there  was  any  person  in  sight  before  I 
entered  it ;  but  I  could  see  no  one.  So  I  started 
across  with  a  hope  of  crossing  without  coming  in 
contact  with  any  one  on  the  prairie.  I  walked  as 
fast  as  I  could,  but  when  I  got  about  midway  of  the 
prairie,  I  came  to  a  high  spot  where  the  road  fork- 
ed, and  three  men  came  up  from  a  low  spot  as  if 
they  had  been  there  concealed.  They  were  all  on 
horse  back,  and  I  supposed  them  to  be  the  same  men 
that  had  tried  to  get  lodging  where  I  stopped  over 
night.  Had  this  been  in  timbered  land,  I  might 
have  stood  some  chance  to  have  dodged  them,  but 
there  I  was,  out  in  the  open  prairie,  where  I  could 
see  no  possible  way  by  which  I  could  escape. 


160  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIEB. 

They  came  along  slowly  up  behind  me,  and  finally 
passed,  and  spoke  or  bowed  their  heads  on  passing, 
but  they  traveled  in  a  slow  walk  and  kept  but  a 
very  few  steps  before  me,  until  we  got  nearly  across 
the  prairie.  When  we  were  coming  near  a  planta- 
tion a  piece  off  from  the  road  on  the  skirt  of  the 
timbered  land,  they'  whipped  up  their  horses  and 
left  the  road  as  if  they  were  going  across  to  this 
plantation.  They  soon  got  out  of  my  sight  by 
going  down  into  a  valley  which  lay  between  us  and 
the  plantation.  Not  seeing  them  rise  the  hill  to  go 
up  to  the  farm,  excited  greater  suspicion  in  my 
mind,  so  I  stepped  over  on  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
where  I  could  see  what  they  were  doing,  and  to  my 
surprise  I  saw  them  going  right  back  in  the  direc- 
tion they  had  just  came,  and  they  were  going  very 
fast.  I  was  then  satisfied  that  they  were  after  me 
and  that  they  were  only  going  back  to  get  more 
help  to  assist  them  in  taking  me,  for  fear  that  I 
might  kill  some  of  them  if  they  undertook  it.  The 
first  impression  was  that  I  had  better  leave  the 
road  immediately ;  so  I  bolted  from  the  road  and 
ran  as  fast  as  I  could  for  some  distance  in  the  thick 
forest,  and  concealed  myself  for  about  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes,  which  were  spent  in  prayer  to  God 
for  his  protecting  care  and  guidance. 

My  impression  was  that  when  they  should  start 
in  pursuit  of  me  again,  they  would  follow  on  in  the 
direction  which  I  was  going  when  they  left  me ; 
and  not  finding  or  hearing  of  me  on  the  road,  they 
would    come  back   ooad    hunt  through  the    woods 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  161 

fc.'  V  and,  and  if  they  could  find  no   track  they  might 
go  and  get  dogs  to  trace  me  out. 

I  thought  my  cha^nce  of  escape  would  be  better, 
if  I  went  back  to  the  same  side  of  the  road  that 
they  first  went,  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  them  ; 
as  I  supposed  that  they  would  not  suspect  my  going 
in  the  same  direction  that  tl^y  went,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  escaping  from  them. 

So  I  traveled  all  that  day  square  off  from  the 
road  through  the  wild  forest  without  any  know- 
ledge of  the  country  whatever;  for  I  had  notliing 
to  travel  by  but  the  sun  by  day,  and  the  moon  and 
stars  by  night.  Just  before  night  I  came  in  sight  of 
a  large  plantation,  where  I  saw  quite  a  number  of 
horses  running  at  large  in  a  field,  and  knowing  that 
my  success  in  escaping  depended  upon  my  getting 
out  of  that  settlement  within  twenty-four  hours, 
to  save  myself  from  everlasting  slavery,  I  thought 
I  should  be  justified  in  riding  one  of  those  horses, 
that  night,  if  I  could  catch  one.  I  cut  a  grape 
vine  w^ith  my  knife,  and  made  it  into  a  bridle  ;  and 
shortly  after  dark  I  went  into  the  field  and  tried 
to  catch  one  of  the  horses.  I  got  a  bunch  of  dry 
blades  of  fodder  and  walked  up  softly  towards  the 
horses,  calling  to  them  "cope,"  "cope,''  "cope;" 
but  there  was  only  one  out  of  the  number  that  I 
was  able  to  get  my  hand  on,  and  that  was  an  old 
mare,  which  I  supposed  to  be  the  mother  of  all  the 
rest ;  and  I  knew  that  I  could  walk  faster  than  she 
could  travel.  She  had  a  bell  on  and  was  very  thin 
in  fiesh  ;  she  looked  gentle  and  walked  on  three 
legs  only.     The  young  horses  pranced  and  galloped 


162  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

off.     I  was  not  able  to  get  near  them,  and  the  old 
mare  being  of  no  use  to  me,  I  left  them  all.     After 
fixing  my  eyes    on   the   north  star    I  pursued  my 
journey,  holding  on  to  my  bridle  with  a  hope  of 
finding  a  horse  upon  which  I  might  ride  that  night. 
I  found  a  road  leading  pretty  nearly  in  the  direc- 
tion which  I  wantedjjlto  travel,  and  I  kept  it.     After 
traveling  several  miles  I  found  another  large  planta- 
tion where  there  was   a  prospect  of  finding  a  horse. 
I  stepped   up    to   the   barn-yard,  wherein    I   found 
several  horses.     There  was  a  little   barn   standing 
with  the  door  open,  and  I  found  it  quite  an  easy  task 
to   get    the  horses  into    the  barn,    and   select  out 
the  best  looking  one  of  them.     I  pulled  down  the 
fence,  led  the  noble  beast    out  and  mounted  hira, 
taking  a  northern  direction,  being  able  to  find  a  road 
which  led  that  way.     But  I  had  not  gone  over  three 
or  four  miles  before   I  came  to  a  large  stream  of 
water  which  was  past  fording ;  yet  I  could  see  that 
it  had  been  forded  by  the  road  track,  but  from  high 
water  it  was  then  impassible.     As  the  horse  seemed 
willing  to  go  in  I  put  him  through;   but  before  he 
got  in  far,  he  was  in  water  up  to  his  sides  and  finally 
the  water  came  over  his  back  and  he  swam  over.     I 
got  as  wet  as  could  be,  but  the  horse  carried  me 
safely  across  at  the  proper  place.     After  I  got  out 
a  mile  or   so  from  the  river,  I   came  into  a  large 
prairie,  which  I  think  must  have  been    twenty  or 
thirty  miles  in  width,  and  the  road  run  across  it 
about  in  the  direction  that  I  wanted  to  go.     I  laid 
whip  to  the  horse,  and  I  think  he  must  have  carried 
me  not   less   than  forty  miles  that  night,  or  before 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  163 

sun  rise  the  next  morning.  I  then  stopped  him  in 
a  spot  of  high  grass  in  an  old  field,  and  took  ofif  the 
bridle.  I  thanked  God,  and  thanked  the  horse  for 
what  he  had  done  for  me,  and  wished  him  a  safe 
journey  back  home. 

I  know  the  poor  horse  must  have  felt  stiff,  and 
tired  from  his  speedy  jaunt,  and  I  felt  very  bad  my- 
self, riding  at  that  rate  all  night  without  a  saddle ; 
but  I  felt  as  if  I  had  too  much  at  stake  to  favor 
either  horse  flesh  or  man  flesh.  I  could  indeed  af- 
ford to  crucify  my  own  flesh  for  the  sake  of  redeem- 
ing myself  from  perpetual  slavery. 

Some  may  be  disposed  to  find  fault  with  my  tak- 
ing the  horse  as  I  did ;  but  I  did  nothing  more  than 
nine  out  of  ten  would  do  if  they  were  placed  in  the 
same  circumstances.  I  had  no  disposition  to  steal 
a  horje  from  any  man.  But  I  ask,  if  a  white  man 
Ylau  heen  captured  by  the  Cherokee  Indians  and  car- 
ried away  from  his  family,  for  life  into  slavery,  and 
-could  see  a  chance  to  escape  and  get  back  to  his  fam- 
ily ;  should  the  Indians  pursue  him  with  a  determina- 
tion to  take  him  back  or  take  his  life,  would  it  be  a 
crime  for  the  poor  fugitive,  whose  life,  liberty  and 
future  happiness  were  all  at  stake,  to  mount  any 
man's  horse  by  the  way  side,  and  ride  him  without 
asking  any  questions,  to  effect  his  escape  ?  Or  who 
would  not  do  the  same  thing  to  rescue  a  wife,  child, 
father,  or  mother  ?  Such  an  act  committed  by  a 
white  man  under  the  same  circumstances  would  not 
only  be  pronounced  proper,  but  praiseworthy  ;  and 
if  he  neglected  to  avail  himself  of  such  a  means  of 
escape  he  would  be  pronounced  a  fool.     Therefore 


.164  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

from  this  act  I  have  nothing  to  regret,  for  I  have 
done  nothing  more  than  any  other  reasonable  per- 
son would  have  done  under  the  same  circumstances. 
But  I  had  good  luck  from  the  morning  I  left  the 
horse  until  I  got  back  into  the  State  of  Ohio. 
About  two  miles  from  where  I  left  the  horse,  I  found 
a  public  house  on  .the  road,  where  I  stopped  and 
took  breakfast.  Being  asked  where  I  was  travel- 
ing, I  replied  that  I  was  going  home  to  Perrysburgh, 
Ohio,  and  that  I  had  been  out  to  look  at  the  land 
in  Missouri,  with  a  view  of  buying.  They  supposed 
me  to  be  a  native  of  Ohio,  from  the  fact  of  my 
being  so  well  acquainted  with  its  location,  its  prin- 
cipal cities,  inhabitants,  &c. 

The  next  night  I  put  up  at  one  of  the  best  hotels 
in  the  village  where  I  stopped,  and  acted  with  as  much 
independence  as  if  I  was  worth  a  million  of  dollars  ; 
talked  about  buying  land,  stock  and  village  property, 
and  contrasting  it  with  the  same  kind  of  property  in 
the  State  of  Ohio.  In  this  kind  of  talk  they  were 
most  generally  interested,  and  I  was  treated  just  like 
other  travelers.  I  made  it  a  point  to  travel  about 
thirty  miles  each  day  on  my  way  to  Jefferson  city. 
On  several  occasions  I  have  asked  the  landlords 
where  I  have  stopped  over  night,  if  they  could  tell 
me  who  kept  the  best  house  where  I  would  stop  the 
next  night,  which  was  most  generally  in  a  small 
village.  But  for  fear  I  might  forget,  I  would  get 
them  to  give  me  the  name  on  a  piece  of  paper  as  a 
kind  of  recommend.  This  would  serve  as  an  intro- 
duction through  which  I  have  always  been  well  re- 
ceived from  one   landlord  to   another,  and   I  have 


%A 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  165 

always  stopped  at  the  best  houses,  eaten  at  the  first 
tables,  and  slept  in  the  best  beds.  No  man  ever 
asked  me  whether  I  was  bond  or  free,  black  or  white, 
rich  or  poor  ;  but  I  always  presented  a  bold  front 
and  showed  the  best  side  out,  which  was  all  the  pass 
I  had.  But  when  I  got  within  about  one  hundred 
miles  of  Jefferson  city,  whej^jkexpected  to  take  a 
Steamboat  passage  to  St.  Eiouis,  I  stopped  over 
night  at  a  hotel,  where  I  met  with  a  young  white 
man  who  was  traveling  on  to  Jefferson  City  on  horse 
back,  and  was  also  leading  a  horse  with  a  saddle 
and  bridle  on. 

I  asked  him  if  he  would  let  me  ride  the  horse 
which  he  was  leading,  as  I  was  going  to  the  same 
city  ?  He  said  that  it  was  a  hired  horse,  that  he 
was  paying  at  the  rate  of  fifty  cents  per  day  for  'it, 
but  if  I  would  pay  the  same  I  could  ride  him. 
I  accepted  the  offer  and  we  rode  together  to  the 
city.  We  were  on  the  road  together  two  or  three 
day?  stopped  and  ate  and  slept  together  at  thetl 
samr  Uotels. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Stratagem  to  get  on  board  the  steamer. — My  Irish  friends. — ^My 
success  in  reaching  Cincinnati. — Reflections  on  again  seeing 
Keutucky. — I  get  employment  in  a  hotel. — My  tright  at 
seeing  the  gambler  who  sold  me. — I  leave  Ohio  "with  Mr. 
Smith. — His  letter. — My  education. 

The  greatest  of  my  adventures  came  off  when  I 
arrived  at  Jefferson  City.  There  I  expected  to  meet 
an  advertisement  for  my  person ;  it  was  there  I 
must  cross  the  river  or  take  a  steamboat  down  ;  it 
was  there  I  expected  to  be  interrogated  and  requi- 
red to  prove  whether  I  was  actually  a  free  man  or 
a  slave.  If  I  was  free,  I  should  have  to  show  my 
free  papers  ;  and  if  I  was  a  slave  I  should  be  requir- 
ed to  tell  who  my  master  was. 

I  stopped  at  a  hotel,  however,  and  ascertained 
that  there  was  a  steamboat  expected  down  the  river 
that  day  for  St.  Louis.  I  also  found  out  that  there 
were  several  passengers  at  that  house  who  were  go- 
ing down  on  board  of  the  first  boat.  I  knew  that 
the  captain  of  a  steamboat  could  not  take  a  color 
ed  passenger  on  board  of  his  boat  from  a  slave  state 
without  first  ascertaining  whether  such  person 
was  bond  or  free  ;  I  knew  that  this  was  more  than 
he  would  dare  to  do  by  the  laws  of  the  slave  states 
— and  now  to  surmount  this  difficulty  it  brought  into 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  167 

exercise  all  the  powers  of  my  mind.  I  would  have 
got  myself  boxed  up  as  freight,  and  have  been  for- 
warded to  St.  Louis,  but  I  had  no  friend  that  I 
could  trust  to  do  it  for  me.  This  plan  has  since  been 
adopted  by  some  with  success.  But  finally  I  thought 
I  might  possibly  pass  myself  off  as  a  body  servant 
to  the  passengers  going  fron^he  hotel  down. 

So  I  went  to  a  store  and  bought  myself  a  large 
trunk,  and  took  it  to  the  hotel.  Soon,  a  boat  came 
in  which  was  bound  to  St.  Louis,  and  the  passen- 
gers starte'd  down  to  get  on  board.  I  took  up  my 
large  trunk,  and  started  along  after  them  as  if  I  was 
their  servant.  My  heart  trembled  in  view  of  the 
dangerous  experiment  which  I  was  then  about  to 
try.  It  required  all  the  moral  courage  that  I  was 
master  of  to  bear  me  up  in  view  of  my  critical  con- 
dition. The  white  people  that  I  was  following 
walked  on  board  and  I  after  them.  I  acted  as  if 
the  trunk  was  full  of  clothes,  but  I  had  not  a  stitch 
of  clothes  in  it.  The  passengers  went  up  into  the 
cabin  and  I  followed  them  with  the  trunk.  I  sup- 
pose this  made  the  captain  think  that  I  was  their 
slave. 

I  not  only  took  the  trunk  in  the  cabin  but  stood 
by  it  until  after  the  boat  had  started  as  if  it  belong- 
ed to  my  owners,  and  I  was  taking  care  of  it  for 
them  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  boat  got  fairly  under 
way,  I  knew  that  some  account  would  have  to  be 
given  of  me ;  so  I  then  took  my  trunk  down  on  the 
deck  among  the  deck  passengers  to  prepare  myself 
to  meet  the  clerk  of  the  boat,  when  he  should  come 
to  collect  fare  from  the  deck  passengers. 


168  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

Fortunately  for  me  there  was  quite  a  number  of 
deck  passengers  on  board,  among  whom  there  were 
many  Irish.  I  insinuated  myself  among  them  so 
as  to  get  into  their  good  graces,  believing  that  if  1 
should  get  into  a  difficulty  they  would  stand  by  me, 
I  saw  several  of  these  persons  going  up  to  the  sa- 
loon buying  whiskej^ltand  I  thought  this  might  be 
the  most  effectual  way  by  which  I  could  gain  speed- 
ily their  respect  and  sympathy.  So  I  participated 
with  them  pretty  freely  for  awhile,  or  at  least  until 
after  I  got  my  fare  settled.  I  placed  myself  in  a 
little  crowd  of  them,  and  invited  them  all  up  to  the 
bar  with  me,  stating  that  it  was  my  treat.  This 
was  responded  to,  and  they  walked  up  and  drank 
and  I  footed  the  bill.  This,  of  course,  brought  us 
into  a  kind  of  a  union.  We  sat  together  and  laugU^ 
ed  and  talked  freely.  Within  ten  or  fifteen  minutes 
I  remarked  that  I  was  getting  dry  again,  and  invi- 
ted them  up  and  treated  again.  By  this  time  I  was 
thought  to  be  one  of  the  most  liberal  and  gentle- 
manly men  on  board,  by  these  deck  passengers  ;  they 
were  ready  to  do  any  thing  for  me — they  got  to  sing- 
ing songs,  and  telling  long  yarns  in  which  I  took 
quite  an  active  part ;  but  it  was  all  for  effect. 

By  this  time  the  porter  came  around  ringing  his 
bell  for  all  passengers  who  had  not  paid  their  fare, 
to  walk  up  to  the  captain's  office  and  settle  it. 
Some  of  my  Irish  friends  had  not  yet  settled,  and  I 
asked  one  of  them  if  he  would  be  good  enough  to 
take  my  money  and  get  me  a  ticket  when  he  was 
getting  one  for  himself'  and  he  quickly  replied  "  yes 
sir,  I   will  get  you  a  tacket,"     So  he  relieved  me  of 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  169 

my  greatest  trouble.     When  they    came  round  to 

gather  the  tickets  before  we  got  to  St.  Louis,  my 

ticket  was  taken  with  the  rest,  and  no  questions  were 

asked  me. 

The  next  day  the  boat  arrived  at  St.  Louis  ;  my 

object  was  to  take  passage  on  board  of  the  first 
boat  which  was  destined  for  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  and 
as  there  was  a  boat  going  out  that  day  for  Pittsburgh, 
I  went  on  board  to  make  some  inquiry  about  the 
fare  &c.,  and  found  the  steward  to  be  a  colored 
man  with  whom  I  was  acquainted.  He  lived  in 
Cincinnati,  and  had  rendered  me  some  assistance  in 
making  my  escape  to  Cana.da,  in  the  summer  of  1838, 
and  he  also  very  kindly  rided  me  then  in  getting 
back  into  a  land  of  freedom.  The  swift  running 
steamer  started  that  afternoon  on  her  voyage,  which 
soon  wafted  my  body  beyond  the  tyrannical  limits  of 
chattel  slavery.  When  the  boat  struck  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Ohio,  and  I  had  once  more  the  pleasure 
of  looking  on  that  lovely  stream,  my  heart  leaped 
up  for  joy  at  the  glorious  prospect  that  I  should 
again  be  free.  Every  revolution  of  the  mighty 
steam-engine  seemed  to  bring  me  nearer  and  nearer 
the  "  promised  land."  Only  a  few  days  had  elap- 
sed, before  I  was  permitted  by  the  smiles  of  a  good 
providence,  once  more  to  gaze  on  the  green  hill-tops 
and  valleys  of  old  Kentucky,  the  State  of  my  nativ- 
ity. And  notwithstanding  I  was  deeply  interested 
while  standing  on  the  deck  of  the  steamer  looking 
at  the  beauties  of  nature  on  either  side  of  the  river, 
as  she  pressed  her  way  up  the  stream,  my  very  soul 
was  pained  to  look  upon  the  slaves  in  the  fields  of 


170  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

Kentucky,  still  toiling  under  their  task-masters 
without  pay.  It  was  on  tliis  soil  I  first  breathed 
the  free  air  of  Heaven,  and  felt  the  bitter  pangs  of  sla- 
very— it  was  here  that  I  first  learned  to  abhor  it. 
It  was  here  I  received  the  first  impulse  of  human 
rights — it  was  here  that  I  first  entered  my  protest 
against  the  bloody  institution  of  slavery,  by  running 
away  from  it,  and  declared  that  I  would  no  longer 
work  for  any  man  as  I  had  done,  without  wages. 

When  the  steamboat  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio, 
I  took  off  my  trunk  with  the  intention  of  going  to 
Canada.  But  my  funds  were  almost  exhausted,  so 
I  had  to  stop  and  go  to  work  to  get  money  to  travel 
on.  I  hired  myself  at  the  American  Hotel  to  a  Mr. 
McCoy  to  do  the  work  of  a  porter,  to  black  boots,  &c., 
for  which  he  was  to  pay  me  $12  per  month.  I  soon 
found  the  landlord  to  be  bad  pay,  and  not  only  that, 
but  lie  would  not  allow  me  to  charge  for  blacking 
boots,  although  I  had  to  black  them  after  everbody 
had  gone  to  bed  at  night,  and  set  them  in  the  bar- 
room, where  the  gentlemen  could  come  and  get  them 
in  the  morning  while  I  was  at  othej*  work.  I  had 
nothing  extra  for  this,  neither  would  he  pay  me  my 
regular  wages  ;  so  I  thought  this  was  a  little  too 
much  like  slavery,  and  devised  a  plan  by  which  I  got 
some  pay  for  my  work. 

I  made  it  a  point  never  to  blacken  all  the  boots 
and  shoes  over  night,  neither  would  I  put  any  of 
them  in  the  bar-room,  but  lock  them  up  in  a  room 
where  no  one  could  get  them  without  calling  for  me. 
I  got  a  piece  of  broken  vessel,  placed  it  in  the  room 
just  before  the  boots,  and  put  into  it  several  pieces 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  l7l 

of  small  change,  as  if  it  had  been  given  me  for  boot 
blacking ;  and  almost  every  one  that  came  in  after 
their  boots,  would  throw  some  small  trifle  into 
my  contribution  box,  while  I  was  there  blacking 
away.  In  this  way,  I  made  more  than  my  landlord 
paid  me,  and  I  soon  got  a  good  stock  of  cash  again. 
One  morning  I  blacked  a  gentleman's  boots  who 
came  in  during  the  night  by  a  steamboat.  After 
he  had  put  on  his  boots,  I  was  called  into  the  bar- 
room to  button  his  straps  ;  and  while  I  was  per- 
forming this  service,  not  thinking  to  see  anybody 
that  knew  me,  I  happened  to  look  up  at  the  man's 
face  and  who  should  it  be  but  one  of  the  very  gam- 
blers who  had  recently  sold  me.  I  dropped  his  foot 
and  bolted  from  the  room  as  if  I  had  been  struck  by 
an  electric  shock.  The  man  happened  not  to  recog- 
nize me,  but  this  strange  conduct  on  my  part  excited 
the  landlord,  who  followed  me  out  to  see  what  was 
the  matter.  He  found  me  with  my  hand  to  my 
breast,  groaning  at  a  great  rate.  He  asked  me  what 
was  the  matter ;  but  I  was  not  able  to  inform  him 
correctly,  but  said  that  I  felt  very  bad  indeed.  He 
of  course  thought  I  was  sick  with  the  colic  and  ran 
in  the  house  and  got  some  hot  stuif  for  me,  with 
spice,  ginger,  &c.  But  I  never  got  able  to  go  into 
the  bar-room  until  long  after  breakfast  time,  when  I 
knew  this  man  was  gone  ;  then  I  got  well. 

And  yet  I  have  no  idea  that  the  man  would  have 
hurt  a  hair  of  my  head  ;  but  my  first  thought  was 
that  he  was  after  me.  I  then  made  up  my  mind  to 
leave  Portsmouth ;  its  location  being  right  on  the 
border  of  a  slave  State. 


172  VARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

A  short  time  after  this  a  gentleman  put  up  there 
over  night  named  Smith,  from  Perrysburgh,  with 
whom  I  was  acquainted  in  the  North.  He  was  on 
his  way  to  Kentucky  to  buy  up  a  drove  of  line 
horses,  and  he  wanted  me  to  go  and  help  him  to 
drive  his  horses  out  to  Perrysburgh,  and  said  he 
would  pay  all  my  expenses  if  I  would  go.  So  I 
made  a  contract  to  go  and  agreed  to  meet  him  the 
next  week,  on  a  set  day,  in  Washington,  Ky„  to 
start  with  his  drove  to  the  north.  Accordingly  at 
the  time  I  took  a  steamboat  passage  down  to  Mays- 
ville,  near  where  I  was  to  meet  Mr.  Smith  with  my 
trunk.  When  I  arrived  at  Maysville,  I  found  that 
Washington  was  still  six  miles  back  from  the  river. 
I  stopped  at  a  hotel  and  took  my  breakfast,  and  who 
should  I  see  there  but  a  captain  of  a  boat,  who  saw 
me  but  two  years  previous  going  down  the  river 
Ohio  with  handcuffs  on,  in  a  chain  gang  ;  but  he 
happened  not  to  know  me.  I  left  my  trunk  at  the 
hotel  and  went  out  to  Washington,  where  I  found 
Mr.  Smith,  and  learned  that  he  was  not  going  to 
start  off  with  his  drove  until  the  next  day. 

The  followig  letter  which  was  addressed  to  the 
committee  to  investigate  the  truth  of  my  narrative, 
will  explain  this  part  of  it  to  the  reader  and  corrob- 
orate my  statements  :  ^ 

Maumee  City,  April  5,  1845. 
Chas.  H.  Stewart,  Esq. 
Dear  Sir: — Your    favor   of  13th    February,   ad- 
dressed to  me  at  Perrysburgh,  was  not  received  until 
yesterday ;    having     removed    to    this    place     the 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  173 

letter  was  not  forwarded  as  it  should  have  been,  In 
reply  to  your  inquiry  respecting  Henry  Bibb,  I  can 
only  say  that  about  the  year  1838  I  became  acquaint- 
ed with  him  at  Perrysbugh — employed  him  to  do 
some  work  by  the  job  which  he  performed  well,  and 
from  his  apparent  honesty  and  candor,  I  became 
much  interested  in  him.  About  that  time  he  went 
South  for  the  purpose,  as  was  said,  of  getting  his 
wife,  who  was  there  in  slavery.  In  the  spring  of 
1841,  I  found  him  at  Portsmouth  on  the  Ohio  river, 
and  after  much  persuasion,  employed  him  to  assist 
my  man  to  drive  home  some  horses  and  cattle  which 
I  was  about  purchasing  near  Maysville,  Ky.  My 
confidence  in  him  was  such  that  when  about  half 
v/ay  home  I  separated  the  horses  from  the  cattle, 
and  left  him  with  the  latter,  with  money  and  instruc- 
tions to  hire  what  help  he  wanted  to  get  to  Perrys- 
burgh.  This  he  accomplished  to  my  entire  satisfac- 
tion. He  worked  for  me  during  the  summer,  and  I 
was  unwilling  to  part  with  him,  but  his  desire  to  go 
to  school  and  mature  plans  for  the  liberation  of  his 
Avife,  were  so  strong  that  he  left  for  Detroit,  where 
he  could  enjoy  the  society  of  his  colored  brethren. 
I  have  heard  his  story  and  must  say  that  I  have 
not  the  least  reason  to  suspect  it  being  otherwise 
than  true,  and  furthermore,  I  firmly  believe,  and 
have  for  a  long  time,  that  he  has  the  foundation  to 
make  himself  useful.  I  shall  always  afford  him  all 
the  facilities  in  my  power  to  assist  him,  until  I  hear 
of  something  in  relation  to  him  to  alter  my  mind. 
Yours  in  the  cause  of  truth, 

J.  W.  SMITH. 


174  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

When  I  arrived  at  Perrysburgh,  I  went  to  work 
for  Mr.  Smith  for  several  months.  This  family  I 
found  to  be  one  of  the  most  kind-hearted,  and  un- 
prejudiced that  I  ever  lived  with.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  lived  up  to  their  profession. 

1  resolved  to  go  to  Detroit,  that  winter,  and  go 
to  school,  in  January  1842.  But  when  I  arrived  at 
Detroit  I  soon  found  that  I  was  not  able  to  give 
myself  a  very  thorough  education.  I  was  among 
strangers,  who  were  not  disposed  to  show  me  any 
great  favors.  I  had  every  thing  to  pay  for,  and 
clothing  to  buy,  so  I  graduated  within  three  weeks  ! 
And  this  was  all  the  schooling  that  I  have  ever  had 
in  my  life. 

W.  C.  Monroe  was  my  teacher  ;  to  him  I  went 
about  two  weeks  only.  My  occupation  varied  ac- 
cording to  circumstances,  as  I  was  not  settled  in 
mind  about  the  condition  of  my  bereaved  family  for 
several  years,  and  could  noi  settle  myself  down  at 
any  permanent  business.  I  saw  occasionally,  fugi- 
tives from  Kentucky,  some  of  whom  I  knew,  but 
none  of  them  were  my  relatives ;  none  could  give 
me  the  information  which  I  desired  most. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


Letter  from  W.  H.  Gatewood. — My  reply. — My  efforts  as  a 
public  lecturer. — Singular  incident  in  Steubenville — Meeting 
"wilh  a  friend  of  Wbitlield  in  Michigan. — Outrage  on  a  canal 
packet. — Fruitless  etforts  to  find  my  wife. 

The  first  direct  information  that  I  received  con- 
cerning any  of  my  relations,  after  my  last  escape 
from  slavery,  was  communicated  in  a  letter  from 
Wm.  H.  Gatewood,  my  former  owner,  which  I  here  in- 
sert word  for  word,  without  any  correction  : 

Bedford,  Trimble  County,  Ky. 

Mr.  H.  Bibb. 

Dear  Sir  : — After  my  respects  to  you  and  yours 
&c.,  I  received  a  small  book  which  you  sent  to  me 
that  I  peroseed  and  found  it  was  sent  by  H.  Bibb  I 
am  a  stranger  in  Detroit  and  know  no  man  there 
without  it  is  AValton  H.  Bibb  if  this  be  the  man 
please  to  write  to  me  and  tell  me  all  about  tliat  place 
and  the  people  I  will  tell  you  the  news  here  as 
well  as  I  can  your  mother  is  still  living  here  and 
she  is  well  the  people  are  generally  well  in  this 
cuntry  times  are  dull  and  produce  low  give 
my  compliments  to  King,  Jack,  and  all  my  friends 
in  that  cuntry  I  read  that  book  you  sent  me  and 
think  it  will  do    very  well — George  is  sold,  I  do  not 


176  NARRATIV'E    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

know  any  thing  about  liim     I  have  nothing  more  at 
present,  but  remain  yours  &c 

W.  H   GATEWOOD. 

February  9th,  1844. 

P.  S.     You  will  please  to  answer  this  letter. 

Never  Avas  I  more  surprised  than  at  the  reception 
of  this  letter,  it  came  so  unexpected  to  me.  There 
had  just  been  a  State  Convention  held  in  Detroit, 
by  the  free  people  of  color,  the  proceedings  of  which 
were  published  in  pamphlet  form.  I  forwarded 
several  of  them  to  distinguished  slaveholders  in 
Kentucky — one  among  others  was  Mr.  Gatewood, 
and  gave  him  to  understand  who  sent  it.  After 
showing  this  letter  to  sevei-al  of  my  anti-slavery 
friends,  and  asking  thvf Iv  opinions  about  the  proprie- 
ty of  my  answering  i(,  I  was  advised  to  do  it,  as 
Mr.  Gatewpod  had  no  ^ij-ii:!  on  me  as  a  slave,  for 
he  had  sold  and  got  the  mo-iey  for  me  and  my  family. 
So  I  wrote  him  an  answer,  ?.s  near  as  I  can  recollect, 
in  the  following  language  : 

"  Dear  Sir  : — I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  you 
are  not  mistaken  in  the  man  whom  you  sold  as  pro 
perty,  and  received  pay  for  as  such.  But  I  t}]anli 
God  that  I  am  not  property  now,  but  am  regardec' 
as  a  man  like  yoursell,  and  although  I  live  far  north, 
I  am  enjoying  a  comfortable  living  by  my  own  in- 
dustry. If  you  should  ever  charce  to  03  traveling 
this  w^ay,  and  will  call  on  me,  1  will  use  you  better 
than  you  did  me  while  you  held  me  as  a  slave.  Ti.ink 
not  that  I  have  any  malice  against  you,  for  tii?oruc5 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  177 

treatment  which  yo  i  inflicted  on  me  while  I  was  in 
your  power.  As  it  was  the  custom  of  your  country, 
to  treat  your  fellow  men  as  you  did  me  and  my  little 
family,  I  can  freely  forgive  you. 

I  wish  to  be  remembered  in  love  to  my  aged  moth- 
er, and  friends ;  please  tell  her  that  if  we  should 
never  meet  again  in  this  life,  my  prayer  shall  be  to 
God  that  we  may  meet  in  Heaven,  where  parting 
shall  be  no  more. 

"You  wish  to  be  remembered  to  King  and  Jack. 
I  am  pleased,  sir,  to  inform  you  that  they  are  both 
here,  well,  and  doing  well.  They  are  both  living  in 
Canada  West.  They  are  now  the  owners  of  better 
farms  than  the  men  are  who  once  owned  them. 

You  may  perhaps  think  hard  of  us  for  running 
away  from  slavery,  but  as  to  myself,  I  have  but 
one  apology  to  make  for  it,  which  is  this :  I  have 
only  to  regret  that  I  did  not  start  at  an  earlier  period. 
I  might  have  been  free  long  before  I  was.  But  you 
had  it  in  your  power  to  have  kept  me  there  much 
longer  than  you  did.  I  think  it  is  very  probable 
that  I  should  have  been  a  toiling  slave  on  your  plan- 
tation to-day,  if  you  had  treated  me  differently. 

To  be  compelled  to  stand  by  and  see  you  whip 
and  slash  my  wife  without  mercy,  when  I  could  af- 
ford her  no  protection,  not  even  by  offering  myself 
to  suffer  the  lash  in  her  place,  was  more  than  I  felt 
it  to  be  the  duty  of  a  slave  husband  to  endure,  while 
the  way  w#3  open  to  Canada.  My  infant  child  was 
also  frequently  flogged  by  Mrs.  Gatewood,  for  cry- 
ing, until  its  skin  was  bruised  literally  purple. 
This   kind  of  treatment  was  what  drove    me  Irom 


M. 


178  NARRATIVE    OP   HENRY    BIBB. 

home  and  family,  to  seek  abette|^home  for  them. 
But  I  am  willing  to  "fbrget  the  past.  I  should  be 
pleased  to  hear  irom  you  again,  on  the  reception  of 
this,  and  should  also  be  very  happy  to  correspond 
with  you  often,  if  it  should  be  agreeable  to  yourself, 
I  subscribe  myself  a  friend  to  the  oppressed,  and 
Liberty  forever.  HENRY  BIBB. 

William    Gate  wood. 
Detroit,  March  23d,  1844. 

The  first  time  that  I  ever  spoke  before  a  public 
audience,  was  to  give  a  narration  of  my  own  suffer- 
ings and  adventures,  connected  with  slavery.  I 
commenced  in  the  village  of  Adrian,  State  of  Mich- 
igan, May,  1844.  From  that  up  to  the  present 
period,  the  principle  part  of  my  time  has  been  faith- 
fully devoted  to  the  cause  of  freedom — nerved  up 
and  encouraged  by  the  sympathy  of  anti-slavery 
friends  on  the  one  hand,  and  prompted  by  a  sense  of 
duty  to  my  en:^laved  countrymen  on  the  other,  es- 
pecially, when  I  remembered  that  slavery  had  robbed 
me  of  my  freedom — deprived  me  of  education — ban- 
ished me  from  my  native  State,  and  robbed  me  of  my 
family. 

I  went  from  Michigan  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  where 
I  traveled  over  some  of  the  Southern  counties  of 
that  State,  in  company  with  Samuel  Brooks,  and 
Amos  Dresser,  lecturing  upon  the  subject  of  Ameri- 
can Slavery.  The  prejudice  of  the  peojjle  at  that 
time  was  very  strong  against  the  abolitionists ;  so 
much  so  that  they  were  frequently  mobbed  for  dis 
•  ussing  the  subject. 


<^ 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  179 

We  appointed  a  series  of  meetings  along  on  the 
Ohio  River,  in  sight  of  the  State  of  Virginia ;  and 
in  several  places  we  had  Virginians  over  to  hear  us 
upon  the  subject.  I  recollect  our  having  appoint- 
ed a  meeting  in  the  city  of  Steubenville,  which  is 
situated  on  the  bank  of  the  river  Ohio.  There 
was  but  one  known  abolitionist  living  in  that  city, 
named  George  Ore.  On  the  day  of  our  meeting, 
when  we  arrived  in  this  splendid  city  there  was  not 
a  church,  school  house,  nor  hall,  that  w^e  could  get 
for  love  or  money,  to  hold  our  meeting  in.  Finally, 
I  believe  that  the  whigs  consented  to  let  us  have  the 
use  of  their  club  room,  to  hold  the  meeting  in ;  but 
before  the  hour  had  arrived  for  us  to  commence,  they 
re-considered  the  matter,  and  informed  us  that  we 
could  not  have  the  use  of  theirhouse  for  an  abolition 
meeting. 

We  then  got  permission  to  hold  forth  in  the  pub- 
lic market  house,  and  even  then  so  great  was  the 
hostility  of  the  rabble,  that  they  tried  to  bluff  us 
off,  by  threats  and  epithets.  Our  meeting  was  ad- 
vertised to  take  place  at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.  The 
pro-slavery  parties  hired  a  colored  man  to  take  a 
large  auction  bell,  and  go  all  over  the  city  ringing 
it,  «ifed  crying,  "  ho  ye  !  ho  ye  !  Negro  auction  to 
take  place  in  the  market  house,  at  nine  o'clock,  by 
George  Ore !"  This  cry  was  sounded  all  over 
the  city,  which  called  out  many  who  would  not 
otherwise  have  been  present.  They  came  to 
see  if  it  was  really  the  case.  The  object  of  the 
rabble  in  having  the  bell  rung  was,  to  prevent  us 
from  attempting  to  speak.     But  at  the  appointed 


"^ 


180  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

hour,  Bro.  Dresser  opened  the  meeting  with  prayer 
and  Samuel  Brooks  mounted  the  block  and  spoke 
for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  after  which  Mr. 
Dresser  took  the  block  and  talked  about  one  hour 
upon  the  wickedness  of  slaveholding.  There  were 
not  yet  many  persons  present.  They  were  standing 
off  I  suppose  to  see  if  I  was  to  be  offered  for  sale. 
Many  windows  were  hoisted  and  store  doors  open, 
and  they  were  looking  and  listening  to  what  was  said. 
After  Mr.  Dresser  was  through,  I  was  called  to  take 
the  stand.  Just  at  this  moment  there  was  no  small 
stir  in  rushing  forward;  so  much  indeed,  that  I 
thought  they  were  coming  up  to  mob  me.  I  should 
think  that  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  there  were 
about  one  thousand  persons  standing  around,  listen- 
ing. I  saw  many  of  them  shedding  tears  while  I 
related  the  sad  story  of  my  wrongs.  At  twelve 
o'clock  we  adjourned  the  meeting,  to  meet  again  at 
the  same  place  at  two  P.  M.  Our  afternoon  meet- 
ing was  well  attended  until  nearly  sunset,  at  which 
time,  we  saw  some  signs  of  a  mob  and  adjourned. 
The  mob  followed  us  that  night  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Ore,  and  they  were  yelling  like  tigers,  until  late  that 
night,  around  the  house,  as  if  they  wanted  to  tear  it 
down.  # 

In  the  fall  of  1844,  S.  B.  Treadwell,  of  Jackson, 
and  myself,  spent  two  or  three  months  in  lecturing 
through  the  State  of  JNIichigan,  upon  the  abolition 
of  slavery,  in  a  section  of  country  where  abolitionists 
were  few  and  far  between.  Our  meetings  were  gen- 
erally appointed  in  small  log  cabins,  school  houses, 
among  the  farmers,  which  were  some  times  crowded 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  181 

full ;  and  where  they  had  no  horse  teams,  it  was 
often  the  case  that  there  would  he  four  or  five  ox 
teams  come,  loaded  down  with  men,  women  and 
children,  to  attend  our  meetings. 

But  the  people  were  generally  poor,  and  in  many 
places  not  able  to  give  us  a  decent  night's  lodging. 
We  most  generally  carried  with  us  a  few  pounds  of 
candles  to  light  up  the  houses  wherein  we  held  our 
meetings  after  night ;  for  in  many  places,  they  had 
neither  candles  nor  candlesticks.  After  meeting  was 
out,  we  have  frequently  gone  from  three  to  eight 
miles  to  get  lodging,  through  the  dark  forest,  where 
there  was  scarcely  any  road  for  a  wagon  to  run  on. 

I  have  traveled  for  miles  over  swamps,  where  the 
roads  were  covered  with  logs,  without  any  dirt  over 
them,  which  has  sometimes  shook  and  jostled  the 
wagon  to  pieces,  where  we  could  find  no  shop  or 
any  place  to  mend  it.  We  would  have  to  tie  it  up 
with  bark,  or  take  the  lines  to  tie  it  with,  and  lead 
the  horse  by  the  bridle.  At  other  times  we  were 
in  mud  up  to  the  hubs  of  the  wheels.  I  recollect 
one  evening,  we  lectured  in  a  little  village  where 
there  happened  to  be  a  Southerner  present,  who 
ivas  a  personal  friend  of  Deacon  Whitfield,  who  be- 
eame  much  offended  at  what  I  said  about  his  "  Bro. 
Whitfield,"  and  complained  about  it  after  the  meet- 
ng  was  out. 

He  told  the  people  not  to  believe  a  word  that  I 
said,  that  it  was  all  a  humbug.  They  asked  him 
how  he  knew  ?  "  Ah !  "  said  he,  "  he  has  slandered 
Bro.  Whitfield.  I  am  well  acquainted  with  him, 
we  both  belonged  to  one  church  ;  and  Whitfield  is 


l82  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

one  of  the  most  respectable  men  in  all  that  region 
of  country."  They  asked  if  he  (Whitfield)  was  a 
slaveholder  ? 

The  reply  was  "  yes,  but  he  treated  his  slaves 
well." 

"  Well,"  said  one,  "  that  only  proves  that  he  has 
told  us  the  truth  ;  for  all  we  wish  to  know,  is  that 
there  is  such  a  man  as  Wliitfield,  as  represented  by 
Bibb,  and  that  he  is  a  slaveholder." 

On  the  2d  Sept.,  1847,  I  started  from  Toledo  on 
board  the  canal  packet  Erie,  for  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
But  before  going  on  board,  I  was  waited  on  by  one 
of  the  boat's  crew,  who  gave  me  a  card  of  the 
boat,  upon  which  was  printed,  that  no  pains  would 
be  spared  to  render  all  passengers  comfortable  who 
might  favor  them  with  their  patronage  to  Cincin- 
nati. Tliis  card  I  slipped  into  my  pocket,  sup- 
posing it  might  be  of  some  use  to  me.  There  were 
several  drunken  loafers  on  board  going  through  as 
passengers,  one  of  whom  used  the  most  vulgar 
language  in  the  cabin,  where  there  were  ladies,  and 
even  vomited  !  But  he  was  called  a  white  man,  and 
a  southerner,  which  made  it  all  right.  I  of  course 
took  ray  place  in  the  cabin  with  the  rest,  and  there 
was  nothing  said  against  it  that  night.  When  the 
passengers  went  forward  to  settle  their  fare  I  paid 
as  much  as  any  other  man,  which  entitled  me  to 
the  same  privileges.  The  next  morning  at  the 
ringing  of  the  breakfast  bell,  the  proprietor  of  the 
packet  line,  Mr.  Samuel  Doyle,  being  on  board,  in- 
vited the  passengers  to  sit  up  to  breakfast.  He 
also  invited  me  personally  to  sit  up  to  the  table. 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  183 

But  after  we  were  all  seated,  and  some  had  began 
to  eat,  he  came  and  ordered  me  up  from  the  table, 
and  said  I  must  wait  until  the  rest  were  done. 

I  left  the  table  without  making  any  reply,  and 
walked  out  on  the  deck  of  the  boat.  After  break- 
fast the  passengers  came  up,  and  the  cabin  boy  was 
sent  after  me  to  come  to  breakfast,  but  I  refused. 
Shortly  after,  this  man  who  had  ordered  me  from 
the  table,  came  up  with  the  ladies.  I  stepped  up 
and  asked  him  if  he  was  the  captain  of  the  boat. 
His  answer  was  no,  that  he  was  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors. I  then  informed  him  that  I  was  going  to 
leave  his  boat  at  the  first  stopping  place,  but  before 
leaving  I  wanted  to  ask  him  a  few  questions : 
"  Have  I  misbehaved  to  any  one  on  board  of  this 
boat  ?     Have  I    disobeyed  any   law  of  this  boat  ? 

"  No,"  said  he. 

Have  I  not  paid  you  as  much  as  any  other  passen- 
ger through  to  Cincinnati  ?" 

"Yes,"  said  he. 

"  Then  I  am  sure  that  I  have  been  insulted  and 
imposed  upon,  on  board  of  this  boat,  without  any 
just  cause  whatever." 

"  No  one  has  misused  you,  for  you  ought  to  have 
known  better  than  to  have  come  to  the  table  where 
there  were  white  people." 

"  Sir,  did  you  not  ask  me  to  come  to  the  table  ?" 

"  Yes,  but  I  did  not  know  that  you  was  a  colored 
man,  when  I  asked  you ;  and  then  it  was  better  to 
insult  one  man  than  all  the  passengers  on  board  of 
the  boat." 

Sir,  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  a  gentleman  or 


184  NARKATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

lady  on  board  of  this  boat  who  would  have  coiv^l- 
dered  it  an  insult  for  me  to  have  taken  my  break- 
fast, and  you  have  imposed  upon  me  by  taking  my 
money  and  promising  to  use  me  well,  and  then  to 
insult  me  as  you  have." 

"  I  don't  want  any  of  your  jaw,"  said  he. 

"  Sir,  with  all  due  respect  to  your  elevated  station, 
you  have  imposed  upon  me  in  a  way  which  is  un- 
becoming a  gentleman.  I  have  paid  my  money,  and 
behaved  myself  as  well  as  any  other  man,  and  I  am 
determined  that  no  man  shall  impose  on  me  as  you 
have,  by  deceiving  me,  without  my  letting  the  world 
know  it.  I  would  rather  a  man  should  rob  me  of 
my  money  at  midnight,  than  to  take  it  in  that  way." 

I  left  this  boat  at  the  first  stopping  place,  and 
took  the  next  boat  to  Cincinnati.  On  the  last  boat 
I  had  no  cause  to  complain  of  my  treatment.  When 
I  arrived  at  Cincinnati,  I  published  a  statement  of 
this  affair  in  the  Daily  Herald. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Doyle  called  on  the  editor  in  a 
great  passion. — "Here,"  said  he,  "what  does  this 
mean." 

"  What,  sir  ?"  said  the  editor  quietly. 

"  Why,  the  stuff  here,  read  it  and  see." 

"  Read  it  yourself,"  answered  the  editor. 

'*  Well,  I  want  to  know  if  you  sympathize  with 
this  nigger  here." 

"  Who,  Mr.  Bibb  ?  Why  yes,  I  think  he  is  a  gen- 
tleman, and  should  be  used  as  such." 

"Why  this  is  all  wrong — all  of  it." 

"Put  your  finger  on  the  place,  and  I  will  right  it." 

"  Well,  he  says  that  we  took  his  money,  when  we 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    EIBB.  185 

paid  part  back.  And  if  you  take  his  part,  why  I'll 
have  nothing  to  do  with  your  paper." 

So  ended  his  wrath. 

In  1845,  the  anti- slavery  friends  of  Michigan  em- 
ployed me  to  take  the  field  as  an  anti-slavery  Lec- 
turer, in  that  State,  during  the  Spring,  Summer,  and 
Fall,  pledging  themselves  to  restore  to  me  my  wife 
and  child,  if  they  were  living,  and  could  be 
reached  by  human  agency,  which  may  be  seen  by  the 
following  circular  from  the  Signal  of  Liberty : 

TO  LIBERTY  FRIENDS  :— In  the  Signal  of  the 
28th  inst.  is  a  report  from  the  undersigned  respect- 
ing Henry  Bibb.  His  narrative  always  excites  deep 
sympathy  for  himself  and  favorable  bias  for  the 
cause,  which  seeks  to  abolish  the  evils  he  so  power- 
fully portrays.  Friends  and  foes  attest  his  effi- 
ciency. 

Mr.  Bibb  has  labored  much  in  lecturing,  yet  has 
collected  but  a  bare  pittance.  He  has  received  from 
Ohio  lucrative  offers,  but  we  have  prevailed  on  him 
to  remain  in  this  State. 

We  think  that  a  strong  obligation  rests  on  the 
friends  in  this  State  to  sustain  Mr.  Bibb,  and  restore 
to  him  his  wife  and  child.  Under  the  expectation 
that  Michigan  will  yield  to  these  claims  :  will  sup- 
port their  laborer,  and  re-unite  the  long  severed  ties 
of  husband  and  wife,  parent  and  child,  Mr.  Bibb  will 
lecture  through  the  whole  State. 

Our  object  is  to  prepare  friends  for  the  visit  of 
Mr.  Bibb,  and  to  suggest  an  effective  mode  of  opera- 
tions for  the  whole  State. 


185  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB 

Let  friends  in  each  vicinity  appoint  a  collector- 
pay  to  him  all  contributions  for  the  freedom  of  Mrs. 
Bibb  and  child  :  then  transmit  them  to  us.  We  will 
acknowledge  them  in  the  Signal,  and  be  responsible 
for  them.  We  will  see  that  the  proper  measures  for 
the  freedom  of  Mrs.  Bibb  and  child  are  taken,  and  if 
it  be  within  our  means  we  will  accomplish  it — nay 
we  will  accomplish  it,  if  the  objects  be  living  and 
the  friends  sustain  us.  But  should  we  fail,  the  con- 
tributions will  be  held  subject  to  the  order  of  the 
donors,  less  however,  by  a  proportionate  deduction 
of  expenses  from  each. 

The  hope  of  this  re-union  will  nerve  the  heart  and 
body  of  Mr.  Bibb  to  re-doubled  effort  in  a  cause 
otherwise  dear  to  him.  And  as  he  will  devote  hij 
whole  time  systematically  to  the  anti-slavery  cause 
he  must  also  dejDcnd  on  friends  for  the  means  ol 
livelihood.  We  bespeak  for  him  your  hospitality, 
and  such  pecuniary  contributions  as  you  can  afford, 
trusting  that  the  latter  may  be  sufHcient  to  enable 
him  to  keep  the  field. 

A.  L.  PORTER, 

C.  H.  STEWART, 

SILAS  M.  HOLMES 

Detroit,  April  22,  1845. 

I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  they  acted 
faithfully  in  the  matter,  but  without  success.  They 
wrote  letters  in  every  quarter  where  they  would  be 
likely  to  gain  any  information  respecting  her.  There 
were  also  two  men  sent  from  Michigan  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1845,  down  South,  to  find  her  if  possible,  and 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB.  187 

report — and  whether  they  found  out  her  condition, 
and  refused  to  report,  I  am  not  able  to  say — but 
suffice  it  to  say  that  they  never  have  reported.  They 
were  respectable  men  and  true  friends  of  the  cause, 
one  of  whom  was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  the 
other  a  cabinet  maker,  and  both  white  men. 

The  small  spark  of  hope  which  had  still  lingered 
about  my  heart  had  almost  become  extinct. 


%. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


My  last  eflFort  to  recover  ray  ftiraily. — Sad  tidings  of  my  yriTe. — 
Her  clegradatiou. — I  am  compelled  tojegai'd  our  relation  as  dis- 
solved forever.  , 

In  view  of  the  failure  to  hear  any  thing  of  my  wife, 
many  of  my  best  friends  advised  me  to  get  mai-ried 
•again,  if  I  could  find  a  suitable  person.  They  re- 
garded my  former  wife  as  dead  to  me,  and  all  had 
been  done  that  could  be. 

But  I  was  not  yet  satisfied  myself,  to  give  up.  I 
wanted  to  know  certainly  what  had  become  of  her. 
So  in  the  winter  of  1845,  I  resolved  to  go  back  to 
Kentucky,  my  native  State,  to  see  if  I  could  hear 
anything  from  my  family.  And  against  the  advice 
of  all  my  friends,  I  went  back  to  Cincinnati,  where 
I  took  passage  on  board  of  a  Southern  steamboat 
to  Madison,  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  which  was  only 
ten  miles  from  where  Wm.  Gatewood  lived,  who 
was  my  former  owner.  No  sooner  had  I  landed  in 
Madison,  than  I  learned,  on  inquiry,  and  from  good 
authority,  that  my  wife  was  living  in  a  state  of 
adultery  with  her  master,  and  had  been  for  the  last 
three  years.  This  message  she  sent  back  to  Ken- 
tucky, to  her  mother  and  friends.  She  also  spoke 
of  the  time  and  nanner  of  our  separation  by  Deacon 
Whitfield,  my  being  taken  off  by  the  Southern  black 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  189 

legs,  to  where  she  knew  not ;  and  that  she  had  finally- 
given  me  up.  The  child  she  said  was  still  with  her. 
Whitfield  had  sold  her  to  this  man  for  the  above  pur- 
poses at  a  high  price,  and  she  was  better  used  than 
ordinary  slaves.  This  was  a  death  blow  to  all  my 
hopes  and  pleasant  plans.  While  I  was  in  Madi- 
son I  hired  a  white  man  to  go  over  to  Bedford, 
in  Kentucky,  where  my  mother  was  then  living, 
and  bring  her  over  into  a  free  State  to  see  me. 
I  hailed  her  approach  with  iDispeakable  joy.  She 
informed  me  too,  on  inquiring  whether  my  fam- 
ily had  ever  been  heard  from,  that  the  report 
which  I  had  just  heard  in  relation  to  Malinda  was" 
substantially  true,  for  it  was  the  same  message  that 
she  had  sent  to  her  mother  and  friends.  And  my 
mother  thought  it  was  no  use  for  me  to  run  any 
more  risks,  or  to  grieve  myself  any  more  about  her. 

From  that  time  I  gave  her  up  into  the  hands  of 
an  all-wise  Providence.  As  she  was  then  living 
with  another  man,  I  could  no  longer  regard  her  as 
my  wife.  After  all  the  sacrifices,  sufferings,  and 
risks  which  I  had  run,  striving  to  rescue  her  from 
the  grasp  of  slavery  ;  every  prospect  and  hope  was 
cut  off.  She  has  ever  since  been  regarded  as  theo- 
retically and  practically  dead  to  me  as  a  wife,  for 
she  was  living  in  a  state  of  adultery,  according  to 
the  law  of  God  and  man. 

Poor  unfortunate  woman,  I  bring  no  charge  of 
guilt  against  her,  for  I  know  not  all  the  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  case.  It  is  consistent 
with  slavery,  however,  to  suppose  that  she  became 
reconciled  to  it,  from   the  fact  oC  her  sending  word 


190  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

back  to  her  friends  and  relatives  that  she  was  much 
better  treated  than  she  had  ever  been  before,  and 
that  she  had  also  given  me  up.  It  is  also  reasona- 
ble to  suppose  that  there  might  have  been  some  kind 
of  attachment  formed  by  living  together  in  this  way 
for  years ;  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  they  have 
other  children  according  to  the  law  of  nature,  which 
would  have  a  tendency  to  unite  them  stronger  to- 
gether. 

In  view  of  all  the  facts  and  circumstances  con- 
nected with  this  matter,  I  deem  further  comments 
and  explanations  unnecessary  on  my  part.  Finding 
myself  thus  isolated  in  this  peculiarly  unnatural 
state,  I  resolved,  in  1846,  to  spend  my  days  in  trav- 
eling, to  advance  the  anti-slavery  cause.  I  spent 
the  summer  in  Michigan,  but  in  the  subsequent  fall 
I  took  a  trip  to  New  England,  where  I  spent  the 
winter.  And  there  I  found  a  kind  reception  where- 
ever  I  traveled  among  the  friends  of  freedom. 

While  traveling  about  in  this  way  among  stran- 
gers, I  was  sometimes  sick,  with  no  permanent  home, 
or  bosom  friend  to  sympathise  or  take  that  care  ot 
me  which  an  affectionate  wife  would.  So  I  conceiv- 
ed the  idea  that  it  would  be  better  for  me  to  change 
my  position,  provided  I  should  find  a  suitable  per- 
son. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1847,  I  attended  the  anti- 
slavery  anniversary  in  the  city  of  New  York,  where 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  introduced  to  the  favor 
of  a  Miss  Mary  E.  Miles,  of  Boston  ;  a  lady  whom  I 
had  frequently  heard  very  highly  spoken  of,  for  her 
activity  and  devotion  to  the  anti-slavery  cause,  as 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  191 

well  as  her  talents  and  learning,  and  benevolence  in 
the  cause  of  reforms,  generally.  I  was  very  much 
impressed  with  the  personal  appearance  of  JVIiss 
Miles,  and  was  deeply  interested  in  our  first  inter- 
view, because  I  found  that  her  principles  and  my 
own  were  nearly  one  and  the  same.  I  soon  found 
by  a  few  visits,  as  well  as  by  letters,  that  she  pos- 
sessed moral  principle,  and  frankness  of  disposition, 
which  is  often  sought  for  but  seldom  found.  These, 
in  connection  with  other  amiable  qualities,  soon 
won  my  entire  confidence  and  affection.  But  this 
secret  I  kept  to  myself  until  I  was  fully  satisfied 
that  this  feeling  was  reciprocal ;  that  there  was  in- 
deed a  congeniality  of  principles  and  feeling,  which 
time  nor  eternity  could  never  change. 

When  I  offered  myself  for  matrimony,  we  mutually 
engaged  ourselves  to  each  other,  to  marry  in  one 
year,  with  this  condition,  viz  :  that  if  either  party 
should  see  any  reason  to  change  their  mind  within 
that  time,  the  contract  should  not  be  considered 
binding.  We  kept  up  a  regular  correspondence  dur- 
ing the  time,  and  in  June,  1848,  we  had  the  happi- 
ness to  be  joined  in  holy  wedlock.  Not  in  slave- 
holding  style,  which  is  a  mere  farce,  without  the 
sanction  of  law  or  gospel ;  but  in  accordance  with 
the  laws  of  God  and  our  country.  My  beloved  wife 
is  a  bosom  friend,  a  help-meet,  a  loving  companion 
in  all  the  social,  moral,  and  religious  relations  of 
life.  She  is  to  me  what  apoor  slave's  wife  can  never 
be  to  her  husband  while  in  the  condition  of  a  s_ave ; 
for  she  can  not  be  true  to  her  husband  contrary  to 
the  will  of  her  master.     She  can  neither  be  pure  nor 


192  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

virtuous,  contrary  to  the  will  of  her  master.  She 
dare  not  refuse  to  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  adultery 
at  the  will  of  her  master ;  from  the  fact  that  the 
slaveholding  law,  customs  and  teachings  are  all 
against  the  poor  slaves. 

I  presume  there  are  no  class  of  people  in  the 
United  States  who  so  highly  appreciate  the  legality 
of  marriage  as  those  persons  who  have  been  held 
and  treated  as  property.  Yes,  it  is  that  fugitive 
who  knows  from  sad  experience,  what  it  is  to  have 
his  wife  tyrannically  snatched  from  his  bosom  by  a 
slaveholding  professor  of  religion,  and  finally  reduc- 
ed to  a  state  of  adultery,  that  knows  how  to  ap- 
preciate the  law  that  repels  such  high-handed  villany. 
Such  as  that  to  which  the  writer  has  been  exposed. 
But  thanks  be  to  God,  I  am  now  free  from  the  hand 
of  the  cruel  oppressor,  no  more  to  be  plundered  of 
my  dearest  rights ;  the  wife  of  my  bosom,  and  my 
poor  unoifending  oifspring.  Of  Malinda  I  will  only 
add  a  word  in  conclusion.  The  relation  once  sub- 
sisting between  us,  to  which  I  clung,  hoping  against 
hope,  for  years,  after  we  were  torn  assunder,  not 
having  been  sanctioned  by  any  loyal  power,  cannot 
be  cancelled  by  a  legal  process.  Voluntarily  as- 
sumed without  law  mutually,  it  was  by  her  relin- 
quished years  ago  without  my  knowledge,  as  before 
named ;  during  which  time  I  was  making  every  ef- 
fort to  secure  her  restoration.  And  it  was  not  until 
after  living  alone  in  the  world  for  more  than  eight 
years  without  a  companion  known  in  law  or  morals, 

that  I  changed  my  condition. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Oommeuts  on  S.  Gatewood's  letter  about  slaves  stealing. — Their 
conduct  vindicated. — Comments  on  W.  Gatewood's  letter. 

But  it  seems  that  I  am  not  now  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  foul  slander  of  slaveholders.  They  are  not 
satisfied  with  selling  and  banishing  me  from  my 
native  State.  As  soon  as  they  got  news  of  my 
being  in  the  free  North,  exposing  their  peculiar  In- 
stitution, a  libelous  letter  was  written  by  Silas 
Gatewood  of  Kentucky,  a  son  of  one  of  my  former 
owners,  to  a  Northern  Committee,  for  publication, 
which  he  thought  would  destroy  my  influence  and 
character.  This  letter  will  be  found  in  the  intro- 
duction. 

He  has  charged  me  with  the  awful  crime  of  taking 
from  my  keeper  and  oppressor,  some  of  the  fruits 
of  my  own  labor  for  the  benefit  of  myself  and  family. 

But  while  writing  this  letter  he  seems  to  have 
overlooked  the  disgraceful  fact  that  he  was  guilty 
himself  of  what  would  here  be  regarded  highway 
robbery,  in  his  conduct  to  me  as  narrated  on  page 
87  of  this  narrative. 

A  word  in  reply  to  Silas  Gatewood's  letter.     I 

am  willing  to  admit  all  that  is  true,  but  shall  deny 

that  which  is  so  basely  false.     In  the  first  place,  he 
8 


194  NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 

puts  words  in  my  mouth  that  I  never  used.  He 
says  that  I  represented  that  "  my  mother  belonged 
to  James  Bibb."  I  deny  ever  having  said  so  in 
private  or  public.  He  says  that  I  stated  that  Bibb's 
daughter  married  a  Sibley.  I  deny  it.  He  also 
says  that  the  first  time  that  I  left  Kentucky  for  my 
liberty,  I  was  gone  about  two  years,  before  I  went 
back  to  rescue  my  family.  I  deny  it.  I  was  gone 
from  Dec.  25th,  1837,  to  May,  or  June,  1838.  He 
says  that  I  went  back  the  second  time  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  off  my  family,  and  eight  or  ten  more 
slaves  to  Canada.  This  I  will  not  pretend  to  deny. 
He  says  I  was  guilty  of  disposing  of  articles  from 
the  farm  for  my  own  use,  and  pocketing  the  money, 
and  that  his  father  caught  me  stealing^  a  sack  full 
of  wheat.  I  admit  the  fact.  I  acknowledge  the 
wheat. 

And  who  had  a  better  right  to  eat  of  the  fruits  of 
my  own  hard  earnings  than  myself  ?  Many  a  long 
summer's  day  have  I  toiled  with  my  wife  and  other 
slaves,  cultivating  his  father's  fields,  and  gathering 
in  his  harvest,  under  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun, 
without  half  enough  to  eat,  or  clothes  to  wear,  and 
at  the  same  time  his  meat-house  was  filled  with 
bacon  and  bread  stuff;  his  dairy  with  butter  and 
cheese;  his  barn  with  grain,  husbanded  by  the  unre- 
quited toil  of  the  slaves.  And  yet  if  a  slave  pre- 
sumed to  take  a  little  from  the  abundance  which  he 
had  made  by  his  own  sweat  and  toil,  to  supply  the 
demands  of  nature,  to  quiet  the  craving  appetite 
which  is  sometimes  almost  irresistible,  it  is  called 
stealing  by  slaveholders. 


NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  195 

But  I  did  not  regard  it  as  stealing  then,  I  do  not 
regard  it  as  such  now.  I  hold  that  a  slave  has  a 
moral  right  to  eat  drink  and  wear  all  that  he  needs, 
and  that  it  would  he  a  sin  on  his  part  to  suffer  and 
starve  in  a  country  where  there  is  a  plenty  to  eat 
and  wear  within  his  reach.  I  consider  that  I  had 
a  just  right  to  what  I  took,  because  it  was  the 
labor  of  my  own  hands.  Should  I  take  from  a 
neighbor  as  a  freeman,  in  a  free  country,  I  should 
consider  myself  guilty  of  doing  wrong  before  God 
and  man.  But  was  I  the  slave  of  Wm.  Gatewood 
to-day,  or  any  other  slaveholder,  working  without 
wages,  and  suffering  with  hunger  or  for  clothing,  I 
should  not  stop  to  inquire  whether  my  master  would 
approve  of  my  helping  myself  to  what  I  needed  to 
eat  or  wear.  For  while  the  slave  is  regarded  as 
property,  how  can  he  steal  from  his  m-aster  ?  It  is 
contrary  to  the  very  nature  of  the  relation  existing 
between  master  and  slave,  from  the  fact  that  there 
is  no  law  to  punish  a  slave  for  theft,  but  lynch  law  ; 
and  the  way  they  avoid  that  is  to  hide  well.  For 
illustration,  a  slave  from  the  State  of  Virginia,  for 
cruel  treatment  left  the  State  between  daylight  and 
dark,  being  borne  off  by  one  of  his  master's  finest 
horses,  and  finally  landed  in  Canada,  where  the 
British  laws  recognise  no  such  thing  as  property  in 
a  human  being.  He  was  pursued  by  his  owners, 
who  expected  to  take  advantage  of  the  British  law 
by  claiming  him  as  a  fugitive  from  justice,  and  as 
such  he  was  arrested  and  brought  before  the  court 
of  Queen's  Bench.  They  swore  that  he  was,  at  a 
certain  time,  the  slave  of  Mr.  A.,  and   that   he  ran 


196 


NARRATIVE    OF    HENRY    BIBB. 


away  at  such  a  time  and  stole  and  brought  off  a 
horse.     They  enquired  who  the   horse  belonged  to, 
and  it  was  ascertained  that  the  slave  and  horse  both 
belonged  to  the  same  person.     The  court  therefore 
decided  that  the   horse  and  the  man  were  both  re- 
cognised, in  the  State  of  Virginia,    alike,  as  articles 
of  property,  belonging  to  the  same  person — there- 
fore, if  there  was  theft  committed  on  either  side,  the 
former  must  have  stolen  off  the  latter — the  horise 
brought  away  the  man,  and  not  the  man  the  horse. 
So  the  man  was  discharged  and  pronounced  free  ac 
cording  to  the  laws  of  Canada.     There   are  several 
other  letters  published  in  this  work  upon  the  same 
subject,  from    slaveholders,  which   it  is   hardly  ne- 
cessary for  me  to  notice.     However,  I  feel  thankful 
to  the  writers  for  the  endorsement  and  confirmation 
which  they  have  given  to  my   story.     No  matter 
what  their  motives  were,  they  have  done  me  and  the 
anti-slavery  cause  good  service  in  writing  those  let- 
ters— but   more  especially  the  Gatewood's.     Silas 
Gatewood  has  done  more  for  me   than  all  the  rest. 
He  has  labored  so  hard  in  his  long  communication 
in  trying  to  expose  me,  that  he   has«  proved  every 
thing  that  I  could  have  asked  of  him  ;  and  for  which 
I  intend  to  reward  him  by  forwarding  him  one  ol 
my  books,  hoping  that  it  njay  be  the  means  of  con- 
verting him  from  a  slaveholder  to   an  honest  man, 
and  an  advocate  of  liberty  for  all  mankind. 

The  reader  will  see  in  the  introduction  that  Wm. 
Gatewood  writes  a  more  cautious  letter  upon  the 
subject  than  his  son  Silas.  "  It  is  not  a  very  easj 
matter  to  catch  old  birds  with  chaff,"  and  I  presume 


NARB/TIVE    OP    HENRY    BIBB.  .197 

if  Silas  had  the  writing  of  his  letter  over  again,  he 
would  not  be  so  free  in  telling  all  he  knew,  and  even 
more,  for  the  sake  of  making  out  a  strong  case. 
The  object  of  his  writing  such  a  letter  will  doubt- 
less be  understood  by  the  reader.  It  was  to  destroy 
public  confidence  in  the  victims  of  slavery,  that 
the  system  iBjght  not  be  exposed — it  was  to  gag  a 
poor  fugitive  who  had  undertaken  to  plead  his  own 
cause  and  that  of  his  enslaved  brethren.  It  was  a 
feeble  attempt  to  suppress  the  voice  of  universal 
freedom  which  is  now  thundering  on  every  gale. 
But  thank  God  it  is  too  late  in  the  day. 


Go  stop  the  mighty  thunder's  roar, 
Go  hush  the  ocean's  sound, 
Or  upward  like  the  eagle  soar 
To  skies'  remotest  bound. 

And  when  thou  hast  the  thunder  stopped, 
And  hushed  the  ocean's  waves, 
Then,  freedom's  spirit  bind  in  chains, 
And  ever  hold  us  slaves. 

And  when  the  eagle's  boldest  feat, 
Thou  canst  perform  with  skill, 
Then,  think  to  stop  proud  freedom's  march 
And  hold  the  bondman  still. 


1 


CHAPTER   XX. 


Eeview  of  my  narrative. — Licentiousness  a  prop  of  slavery. — A 
case  of  mild  slavery  given. — Its  revolting  features. — Times  ot 
my  purchase  and  sale  by  professed  Christians. — Concluding 

remarks. 

f  now  conclude  my  narrative,  by  reviewing  briefly 
what  I  have  written.  This  little  work  has  been 
written  without  any  personal  aid  or  a  knowledge  of 
the  English  grammcr,  which  must  in  part  be  my 
apology  for  many  of  its  imperfections. 

I  find  in  several  places,  where  I  have  spoken  out 
the  deep  feelings  of  my  soul,  in  trying  to  describe 
the  horrid  treatment  which  I  have  so  often  received 
at  the  hands  of  slaveholding  professors  of  religion, 
that  I  might  possibly  make  a  wrong  impression  on 
the  minds  of  some  northern  freemen,  who  are  un- 
acquainted theoretically  or  practically  with  the  cus- 
toms and  treatment  of  American  slaveholders  to 
their  slaves.  I  hope  that  it  may  not  be  supposed  bj 
any,  that  I  have  exaggerated  in  the  least,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  out  the  system  of  slavery  worse 
than  it  really  is,  for,  to  exaggerate  upon  the  cruel- 
ties of  this  system,  would  be  almost  impossible  :  and 
to  write  herein  the  most  horrid  features  of  it  woula 
not  be  in  good  taste  for  my  book. 

I  ha^'o  lonof  thought  from  what  has  fallen  under 


NARRATIVE    OF    H£NRY    BIBB.  199 

my  own  observation  while  a  slave,  that  the  strong- 
est reason  why  southerners  stick  with  such  tenacity 
to  their  "peculiar  instiution,"  is  because  licentious 
white  men  could  not  carry  out  their  wicked  pur- 
poses among  the  defenceless  colored  population  as 
they  now  do,  without  being  exposed  and  punished 
by  law,  if  slavery  was  abolished.  Female  virtue 
could  not  be  trampled  under  foot  with  iiupunity, 
and  marriage  among  the  people  of  color  kept  in 
utter  obscurity. 

On  the  other  hand,  lest  it  should  be  said  by 
slaveholders  and  their  apologists,  that  I  have  not 
done  them  the  justice  to  give  a  sketch  of  the  best 
side  of  slavery,  if  there  can  be  any  best  side  to  it , 
therefore  in  conclusion,  they  may  have  the  benefit 
of  the  following  case,  that  fell  under  the  observa- 
tion of  the  writer.  And  I  challenge  America  to 
show  a  milder  state  of  slavery  than  this.  I  once 
knew  a  Methodist  in  the  state  of  Ky,,  by  the  name 
of  Young,  who  was  the  owner  of  a  large  number 
of  slaves,  many  of  whom  belonged  to  the  same 
church  with  their  master.  They  worshipped  to- 
gether in  the  same  church. 

Mr.  Young  never  was  known  to  flog  one  of  his 
slaves  or  sell  one.  He  fed  and  clothed  them  well, 
and  never  over-worked  them.  He  allowed  each 
family  a  small  house  to  themselves  with  a  little 
garden  spot,  whereon  to  raise  their  own  vegetables  ; 
and  a  part  of  the  day  on  Saturdays  was  allowed 
them  to  cultivate  it. 

In  process  of  tune  he  became  deeply  involved  in 
debt  by  endorsing  notes,  and  his  property  was  all 


200  NARRATIVE    OP    HENRY    BIBB. 

advertised  to  be  sold  by  the  sheriff  at  public  au<r  ^^m. 
It  consisted  in  slaves,  many  of  whom  v^re  his 
brothers  and  sisters  in  the  church. 

On  the  day  of  sale  there  were  slave  traders  and 
speculators  on  the  ground  to  buy.  The  slaves  were 
offered  on  the  auction  block  one  after  another 
until  they  were  all  sold  before  their  old  master's 
face.  The  first  man  offered  on  the  block  was  an 
old  gray-headed  slave  by  the  name  of  Richard.  Hi^ 
wife  followed  him  up  to  the  block,  and  when  they 
had  bid  him  up  to  seventy  or  eighty  dollars  one  of  the 
bidders  asked  Mr.  Young  what  he  could  do,  as  he 
looked  very  old  and  infirm  ?  Mr.  Young  re- 
plied by  saying,  "  he  is  notable  to  accomplish  much 
manual  labor,  from  his  extreme  age  and  hard  labor 
in  early  life.  Yet  I  would  rather  have  him  than 
many  of  those  who  are  young  and  vigorous ;  who 
are  able  to  perform  twice  as  much  labor — because  1 
know  him  to  be  faithful  and  trustworthy,  a  Chris- 
tian in  good  standing  in  my  church.  I  can  trust 
him  anywhere  with  confidence.  He  has  toiled  many 
long  years  on  my  plantation  and  I  have  always 
found  him  faithful. 

This  giving  him  a  good  Christian  character 
caused  them  to  run  him  up  to  near  two  himdred  dol- 
lars. His  poor  old  companion  stood  by  weeping 
and  pleadiiig  that  they  might  not  be  separated.  But 
the  marriage  relation  was  soon  dissolved  by  the  sale, 
and  they  ivere  separated  never  to  meet  again. 

Another  man  was  called  up  whose  wife  followedhim 
with  her  infant  in  her  arms,  beseeching  to  be  sold 
with    her    husband,    which    proved    to  be  all   in 


202  NARKiTIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

?ain.  After  tlio  men  were  «}1  sold  they  then  s(^  d 
the  women  and  children.  They  ordered  the  first 
woman  to  lay  down  her  child  and  mount  the  auction 
block  ;  she  refused  to  give  up  her  little  one  and 
clung  to  it  as  long  as  she  could,  while  the  cruel 
lash  was  applied  to  her  back  for  disobedience.  She 
pleaded  for  mercy  in  the  name  of  God.  But  the 
child  was  torn  from  the  arms  of  its  mother  amid 
the  most  heart  rending-shrieks  from  the  mother  and 
child  on  the  one  hand,  and  bitter  oaths  and  cruel 
lashes  from  the  tyrants  on  the  other.  Finally  the 
poor  little  child  was  torn  from  the  mother  while 
she  was  sacrificed  to  the  highest  bidder.  In  this* 
way  the  sale  was  carried  on  from  begining  to 
end. 

There  was  each  speculator  with  his  hand-cuffs  to 
bind  his  victims  after  the  sale ;  and  while  they 
were  doing  their  writings,  the  Christian  portion  of 
the  slaves  asked  permission  to  kneel  in  prayer  on 
the  ground  before  they  separated,  which  was  granted. 
And  while  bathing  each  other  with  tears  of  sorrow 
on  the  verge  of  their  final  separation,  their  eloquent 
appeals  in  prayer  to  the  Most  High  seemed  to 
cause  an  unpleasant  sensation  upon  the  ears  of  their 
tyrants,  who  ordered  them  to  rise  and  make  ready 
their  limbs  for  the  cafflcs.  And  as  they  happened 
not  to  bound  at  the  first  sound,  they  were  soon 
raised  from  their  knees  by  the  sound  of  the  lash, 
and  the  rattle  of  the  chains,  in  which  they  were 
soon  taken  olf  by  their  respective  masters, — hus- 
bands from  wives,  and  children  from  parents,  nevc*^ 
expecting  to, meet  until  the  judgment  of  the  gr^^at 


:<TAUIIATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB.  203 

day.  1  liter  Christ  shall  say  to  the  slaveholding 
professors  of  religion,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it 
unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  little  ones,  my  bre- 
thren, ye  did  it  unto  me." 

Having  thus  tried  to  show  the  best  side  of  slavery 
ihat  I  can  conceive  of,  the  reader  can  exercise  his 
own  judgment  in  deciding  whether  a  man  can  be  a 
Bible  Christian,  and  yet  hold  his  Christian  brethren 
as  property,  so  that  they  may  be  sold  at  any  time 
in  market,  as  sheep  or  oxen,  to  pay  his  debts. 

During  my  life  in  slavery  I  have  been  sold  by 
professors  of  religion  several  times.  In  1836  "  Bro." 
Albert  G.  Sibley,  of  Bedford,  Kentucky,  sold  me 
for  $850  to  "Bro."  John  Sibley;  and  in  the  same  year 
he  sold  me  to  "  Bro."  Wm.  Gatewood  of  Bedford,  for 
$850.  In  1839  "Bro."  Gatewood  sold  me  to  Madison 
Garrison,  a  slave  trader,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
with  my  wife  and  child — at  a  depreciated  price  be- 
cause I  was  a  runaway.  In  the  same  year  he  sold 
me  with  my  family  to  "Bro."  Whitfield,  in  the  city  of 
New  Orleans,  for  $1200.  In  1841  *'Bro."  Whitfield 
sold  me  from  my  family  to  Thomas  Wilson  and  Co., 
blacklegs.  In  the  same  year  they  sold  me  to  a 
"  Bro."  in  the  Indian  Territory.  I  think  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  F.  E.  Whit- 
field was  a  deacon  in  regular  standing  in  the 
Baptist  Church.  A.  Sibley  was  a  Methodist  ex- 
fa  orter  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  good  standing.  J. 
Sibley  was  a  class-leader  in  the  same  church ;  and 
Wm.  Gatewood  was  also  an  acceptable  member  of 
the  same  church. 

Is  this  Christianity  ?     Is  it  honest  or  right  ?     Is 


204  NARRATIVE    OF   HENRY    BIBB. 

it  doing  as  we  would  be  done  by  ?     Is  it  in  accord 
ance  with  the  principles  of  humanity  or  justice  ? 

I  believe  slaveholding  to  be  a  sin  against  God 
and  man  under  all  circumstances.  I  have  no  sym- 
pathy with  the  person  or  persons  who  tolerate  and 
support  the  system  willingly  and  knowingly,  mo- 
rally, religiously  or  politically. 

Prayerfully  and  earnestly  relying  on  the  power 
of  truth,  and  the  aid  of  the  divine  providence,  I 
trust  that  this  little  volume  will  bear  some  humble 
part  in  lighting  up  the  path  of  freedom  and  revo- 
lutionizing public  opinion  upon  this  great  subject. 
And  I  here  pledge  myself,  God  being  my  helper,  ever 
to  contend  for  the  natural  equality  of  the  human 
family,  without  regard  to  color,  which  is  but  fading 
matt 67' i  while  mind  makes  the  man. 

New  York  City,  May  1,  1849. 

HENRY  BIBB. 


OPINIONS   OF   THE  PRESS. 


From  the  man] 
volume  lias  received  the  following  have  been  selected  : 

From  the  New   York  Evangelist. 

''It  will  be  difficult  for  any  reader,  however  suspicious  o 
narratives  of  this  kind,  to  resist  the  conviction  which  the  sim 
plicity,  candor  and  good  feeling  of  this  work  produces,  of  it; 
entire  truthfulness.  And  if  true,  what  a  history  it  depicts 
Such  oppression,  fea7*,  and  suflFering  ;  such  courage  and  energy  ; 
such  meek  endurance  and  perseverance,  could  only  be  exempli- 
fied by  one  whose  nature  was  taxed  to  (he  uttermost.  The  hardest 
task  the  reader  will  find  is  to  suppress  his  indignation,  and  to 
keep  the  balance  of  his  judgment  in  reference  to  a  system  wliicli 
can  possibly  lead  to  such  monstrous  results.  We  wish  the  book 
might  obtain  a  universal  perusal.  It  is  adapted  to  produce  th<} 
right  kind  of  feeling — a  feeling  of  deep  and  abiding  sympathy 
for  the  oppressed.  We  are  all  too  indifforent  to  the  wrong."  ^i 
ihe  slave.  We  do  not  make  his  case  our  own.  We  do  not  feel 
for  those  in  bonds  as  bound  with  them.  There  is  a  lamentable 
lack  of  proper  Christian  sympathy;  and  it  is  one  of  the  best  re- 
sults of  a  book  like  this,  tliat  it  quickens  the  flow  of  feeling,  and 
touches  the  lieart.  Mr.  Bibb  has  mjinifested  by  a  blameless  lit'", 
and  by  extraordinary  talents,  a  character  which  not  only  c»"' 
roborates  the  truth  of  his  history,  but  powerfully  illustrates  the, 
terrible  nature  o^  the  system  whoso  oppressions  lie  here  recorc'  >, 
For  his  sake,  as  well  as  for  the  sake  of  humanity  and  freedom, 
we  hope  an  extensive  sale  awaits  the  little  volume.  It  is  smal<, 
neatly  printed,  and  sold  at  a  low  price — from  fifty  cents  to 
Beventy-tive  cents  per  copy.  Let  there  be  a  little  Christian 
generosity  exhibited  in  the  sale  of  the  work," 


FroJH  the  jbiberator. 

"Henry  Bibb,  the  well  known  fugitive  slave,  has  just  pub- 
lislied,  in  elegant  style  and  witli  sundry  pictorial  illustrations, 
I  Narrative  of  his  Life  anrl  Adventures,  written  by  himself,  ar  1 
cmarkably  well-written  too  ;  with  an  Introduction  by  T,nciH-; 
)  jMatlac' .     Of  all  the  UiUTatives  that  have  been  pu_bllshe<!,  :.•. 


OPIIVIONS    OF    THE    PRESS.  207 

slave's  longing  for  freedom — of  his  deception,  tricks  and  strata- 
gems to  escape  his  condition,  is  just,  though  humiliating.  His 
narrations  of  the  cruelty  of  individual  slaveholders,  is  natural, 
and  we  doubt  not  in  every  essential  particular  is  true..  We 
deem  the  work  a  most  valuable  acquisition  to  the  anti-slavery 
cause  ;  and  we  hope  that  it  may  be  widely  circulated  throagb 
out  the  country." 


From  the  Clironotype. 

"  This  fugitive  slave  literature  is  destined  to  be  a  powerful 
lever.  We  have  the  most  profound  conviction  of  its  potency. 
We  see  in  it  the  easy  and  infallible  means  of  abolitionizing  tho 
free  states.  Argument  provokes  argument,  reason  is  met  by 
sophistry.  But  narratives  of  slaves  go  right  to  the  hearts  of 
men.  We  d^ify  any  man  to  think  with  any  patience  or  tolerance 
of  slavery  after  reading  Bibb"s  narrative,  unless  he  is  one  of 
those  intidels  to  nature  who  float  on  the  race  as  monsters,  from 
it,  but  not  of  it.  Put  a  dozen  copies  of  this  book  into  every 
school  district  or  neighborhood  in  the  Free  States-  and  we 
have  known  candidates  of  the  Free  Soil  party  whose  wealth 
would  not  miss  the  requisite  to  do  it — and  you  might  sweep  tho 
whole  north  on  a  tiiorough  going  Liberty  Platform  for  abolish- 
ing slavery,  everywhere  and  every  how.  Stir  up  honest  men's 
souls  with  such  a  book  and  they  won't  set  much  by  disclaimers^ 
they  won't  be  squeamish  how  radically  they  vote  against  a  sys- 
tem which  surpasses  any  hell  which  theology  has  ever  been 
able  to  conjure  up. 

'•  We  believe  this  to  be  an  unvarnished  tale,  giving  a  true 
picture  of  slavery  in  all  its  features,  goo;!,  bad  and  indifferent, 
if  it  has  so  many.  TUe  book  is  v^ritten  with  perfect  artlossness, 
and  the  man  who  can  read  it  unmoved  must  be  fit  for  treasons, 
stratagems  and  spoils. 

"One  conclusion  forced  upon  the  philosophical  reader  of  such 
narratives  of  runaway  slaves  is  this,  that  however  tolerable 
chattel  slavery  may  be  as  an  institution  fi^r  savage  and  barbarous 
life,  when  you  bring  it  into  the  purlieus  of  civilization  and 
r'iiristianity.  it  becomes  unsjjeakably  iniquitous  and  intolerable. 
If  Mr.  Calhoun  really  means  to  upho-ld  slavery,  he  must — therg 
is  no  help  for  it — abolish  Christianity,  printing,  art,  science,  ami 
take  his  patriarchs  back  to  the  standard  of  Central  Africa  or  tl^  \ 
days  of  St«m,  Ham  and  Japhet." 


20b  OPINIONS    OF   THE    PRESS. 

one  exceeds  this  in  thrilling  interest ;  and  of  all  the  subjects  of 
them,  no  one  appears  to  have  seen  and  suflFer-ed  so  much  as  Mr. 
Bibb.  It  is  a  book  for  the  rising  generation  in  particular  ;  and 
we  could  wish  that  as  many  copies  of  it  might  be  sold  during 
the  present  year,  as  there  are  slaves  in  the  United  States." 


From  the  True  Wesleijan. 

"This  is  a  volume  of  204  pages,  handsomely  printed  on  good 
paper  and  well  bound.  But  it  is  not  in  the  executio-n  that  the  in- 
terest lies  ;  it  is  in  the  thrilling  incidents  so  well  told.  We  have 
never  been  a  great  reader  of  novels,  as  all  must  know  by  our  style 
of  writing,  yet  we  have  read  enough  to  know  the  almost  resistless 
l>ower  which  a  well-executed  tale,  when  once  we  conmience  read- 
ing, exerts  over  the  mind,  until  we  reach  the  end  ;  and  did  we  not 
know  the  author,  and  know  from  the  best  of  proof  that  the  book 
is  a  true  narrative,  on  reading  it  we  should  pronounce  it  a  novel. 
The  reader  may  rely  upon  its  truth,  and  yet  he  will  find  it  so 
full  of  touching  incidents,  daring  adventures,  and  hair-breadth 
escapes,  that  he  will  find  his  attention  held  spell-bound,  from  the 
time  he  begins  until  he  has  finished  the  little  volume.  "We  think 
the  work  cannot  fail  to  meet  with  an  extensive  sale." 


From  tlie  New   York  Tribune. 

'■•  This  is  a  Nai'rative  of  intense  interest.  The  author  is  well 
known  as  a  powerful  speaker,  keen  in  debate,  shrewd  in  argu- 
ment, and  dangerous  in  retort.  He  here  shows  an  equally  ready 
command  of  the  pen,  and  has  produced  a  book  which  would  do 
credit  to  a  practiced  writer.  No  stronger  proof  of  the  absurdity 
of  slavery  can  be  demanded  than  this  little  history.  By  ap- 
pealing to  the  sense  of  justice  and  the  feeling  of  sympathy  in 
this  artless  record  of  a  noble  struggle  with  oppression  and  out- 
rage, Mr.  Bibb  will  make  an  impression  on  many  readers,  who 
would  not  be  reached  by  more  elaborate  statements.  His  book 
has  the  attraction  of  a  romance,  though  there  was  no  romance  in 
hissufi'erings.  They  were  matter  of  fact  realities  of  the  stern- 
est kind." 


Fr<m  the  North  Star. 

"  After  waiting  several  weeks,  we  have  received  a  copy  of  this 
little  work.  It  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  interesting  and 
thrilling  narratives  of  slavery  ever  laid  before  the  American 
people.  The  exposure  which  the  author  makes  of  the  horrors 
of  slavery — the  separations — the  whippings,  and  the  accumulated 
Outrages  inflicted  on  the  slave,  must  stir  the  blood  of  every 
reader  who  has  the  pulsations  of  a  man.     The  description  of  the 


IP 


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Date  Due 


.vil 

£81  1  4  '52 

1 

1 

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Form  335.     45M  8-37. 


326.92   B581N      319102 


